Restoring Nairobi’s major rivers to a clean and safe state will cost an estimated Ksh180 billion, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has said, highlighting the massive investment required to rejuvenate the city’s waterways. Each river Nairobi, Mathare, and Ngong needs roughly Ksh60 billion to return to its original condition, he noted, stressing that the county alone cannot cover the costs.
Speaking before the Senate Lands Committee, Sakaja clarified that demolitions along riverbanks last year were carried out by national government agencies, not the county.
He defended the Nairobi Regeneration Program, emphasizing its long-term benefits, including improved sanitation, flood prevention, job creation, and enhanced public safety.
The governor pledged to assist affected residents in securing fair compensation and called for close collaboration with national government departments and the Nairobi Rivers Commission to achieve a sustainable cleanup.
