Concerns mount over mass displacement as Ruto’s Nairobi Rivers revamp gains pace
Communities surrounding the Kariobangi treatment works, including Kariobangi North, Dandora, Baba Dogo, and Mathare are expected to experience the greatest impact.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has raised concerns over potential displacement of thousands of residents if precautions are not strictly observed in the government’s Nairobi Rivers Basin project.
The Sh40 billion initiative, championed by President William Ruto, seeks to revamp the city’s rivers through dredging, widening of riverbanks, upgrading sewage treatment facilities, and landscaping.
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The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notice, released on Monday, September 9, states that the project is expected to be completed by 2027.
Central to the plan is the expansion of the Kariobangi sewage treatment plant, which will add a 60,000m³ per day capacity, and the upgrading of the Kirichwa West plant.
These enhancements aim to increase Nairobi’s sewage management capability, address persistent flooding, and reduce riverbank erosion along the Nairobi, Mathare, and Ngong rivers.
Despite these anticipated benefits, NEMA warns that improper execution could have serious consequences for communities.
The authority notes that “soil erosion and sedimentation” could occur during dredging, and that “improper connectivity, river dredging, widening riverbank protection and stabilisation” may trigger downstream flooding and silt accumulation.
Air and noise pollution are also concerns, with dust, machinery emissions, and odours expected to affect nearby neighbourhoods.
To mitigate these, NEMA has advised regularly watering exposed soil surfaces and prohibiting vehicles from idling during work hours.
The agency further cautions that hazardous spills, including oils, paints, and sewage, could enter storm drains or rivers if containment measures are not properly implemented.
NEMA has instructed that all waste storage facilities be secure and bunded, with spill response kits accessible at every construction site.
A major social concern is the likelihood of residents being relocated. The EIA specifies a 30-metre riparian buffer along the rivers, which could require moving households settled in these areas.
Communities surrounding the Kariobangi treatment works, including Kariobangi North, Dandora, Baba Dogo, and Mathare are expected to experience the greatest impact.
While the upgrades may relieve long-standing pressure on old sewage systems, the widened riverbanks could spark fresh fears of forced resettlement in informal settlements.
The Kirichwa West expansion is likely to affect more affluent estates such as Kileleshwa, Riverside, Kilimani, and parts of Upper Hill, where the existing facility struggles to meet demand.
Last year, the government pledged that no resident would be evicted without proper compensation following public protests. Whether that assurance will be upheld during this new project remains uncertain.
NEMA has recommended staggered construction schedules to “minimise simultaneous access blockages at the same locality.” The authority has also instructed the Ministry of Defence, involved in the works, to ensure there is no direct discharge of waste into rivers and that all waste management measures are strictly followed.
The public is invited to provide feedback on the project before it receives approval. Comments are open for 30 days under reference number NEMA/EIA/5/2/2345.
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