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President William Ruto has assured that in two years, Nairobi River will be fully transformed.,
Ruto said it is an indictment to have a dirty river in the headquarters of various environmental bodies.
“I want to promise you that the river we have in Nairobi in two years, will be different. Because we cannot have the headquarters of world environment, UNEP in Nairobi and have the dirty river that we have,” he said.
The President said he will work with all stakeholders to ensure that the city befits to be the environmental headquarters of the world.
He said since launching the Climate WorX Mtaani in September, they have employed 10,000 youths.
Climate WorX Mtaani was founded to revolutionise urban areas by eliminating illegal dumping and the discharge of waste while fostering sustainable neighbourhoods.
The President’s remarks come a few days after Environment CS Aden Duale said in 18 months, the river will have been cleaned.
He warned against polluting the Nairobi River, vowing strict action against those who violate regulations.
“What you see behind me is not a river. In 18 months, we want to see a clean Nairobi. We have put on notice companies, slaughterhouses, and Nairobi sewerage firms. We also want to know where garbage collectors are taking the trash,” he said.
He was speaking at the Nairobi Arboretum on Thursday during Mazingira Day celebrations. Duale directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to trace and question garbage collection companies on where they dispose of waste.
Then, the CS announced plans to engage 20,000 young people in cleaning up the Nairobi River.
He reiterated the commitment to restoring the river, adding that he would “gazette the colour coding of garbage collected in homes.”
“All households and facilities must have separate bins for organic, dry, or wet waste,” he stated.
The CS also instructed NEMA to ensure waste tracking from homes and industries to designated dumpsites.
The ongoing Nairobi River cleanup targets the entire stretch from Naivasha Road to Athi River at Z-corner Juja Farm.
The initiative to reclaim the Nairobi River was relaunched recently by President William Ruto in Kariobangi.
by SHARON MWENDE