Nairobi rivers are increasingly choking with uncollected garbage; human waste from informal settlements; industrial waste in the form of gaseous emissions, liquid effluence and solids waste; agro-chemicals, and other wastes especially petro-chemicals and metals from micro-enterprises – the “Jua-kali”; and over-flowing sewers. This situation has occasioned spread of water-borne diseases, loss of sustainable livelihoods, loss of biodiversity, reduced availability and access to safe potable water, and the insidious effects of toxic substances and heavy metal poisoning which affects human productivity.
The Nairobi River Basin Programme
Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together the Government of Kenya, UNEP, UN-Habitat, UNDP, the private sector and civil society. The vision of Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP) is a restored riverine eco-system with clean water for the capital city and a healthier environment for the people of Nairobi. The objective of the NRBP is to rehabilitate, restore and manage the Nairobi River ecosystem in order to provide improved livelihoods, especially for the poor, enhanced biodiversity, and a sustainable supply of water for domestic and industrial, recreational and emergency uses. NRBP as an initiative was launched by UNEP in 1999 as a three-phased programme. The first two phases established benchmarks, identified interventions and mobilized the participation of Nairobi residents.
Four Main objectives:
(i) To demonstrate how industrial and socio-economic factors contribute to pollution of Nairobi rivers;
(ii) To increase access to information and awareness in order to address the above factors;
(iii) To strengthen capacity development amongst stakeholders to tackle environmental challenges; (iv) To improve water and environmental quality of the river basin.
Phase I(October 1999 to March 2000) constituted a situation assessment of water quality, a preliminary public awareness and education campaign, community outreach through pilot income-generation projects, and capacity building amongst stakeholders. It also developed an Environmental Management Information System (EMIS)...More>>
Phase II(June 2001 to December 2003) was a pilot initiative focusing on a tributary of the Nairobi River system – the Motoine/Ngong River. Pollution monitoring and assessment was limited to a section of the Motoine/Ngong River basin 22 km upstream of Nairobi Dam, the Dam itself, and 25 km downstream to the confluence with the Athi River. The aim of this phase was not only to address the problem of pollution in Nairobi’s rivers but also to put in place community education and information programmes to enable capacity building amongst key grassroots stakeholders. It enlisted the support and collaboration of a number of civil society organizations and local authority departments in designing and implementing activities aimed at restoring the ecological integrity of the Nairobi River....More>>
Phase III(January 2005 to December 2008) recognizes the benchmarks laid down by NRBP phases I and II as pillars to achieve its long-term vision of a restored, rehabilitated, and managed water quality and the riverine eco-system with clean water for the capital city and a healthier urban environment for the people of Nairobi. Capacity building and increased access to vital and relevant information and methodologies have since been identified as pillar for sustainably achieving the NRBP’s vision. Community involvement and empowerment of youth and civil society organizations, the private sector, other non-governmental organizations, and relevant government agencies is key to the success of the programme geared towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Goal 7, and in particular Targets 9 & 10...More>>
Scope of Work
Coordinate collaboration, co-operation and partnership building efforts between different stakeholders within the Nairobi River Basin, such as, relevant UN agencies, departments of the Government of Kenya, Nairobi Dam Trust, development partners, private sector, Nairobi City Council, and civil society to ensure achievement of planned NRBP outputs;
Develop fund-raising proposals and business plans jointly with stakeholders to complement extra-budgetary activities of NRBP-Phase III;
Implementation of Information and Communications Strategy for NRBP-Phase III, including:
managing the website for the Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP) ensuring regular updates of information and database, including posting of a monthly e-newsletter on NRBP activities;
collaborate with the local media houses to implement the information and communication strategy of NRBP for effective public awareness and education.
Provide technical support to grassroots communities, especially through youth groups, within the Nairobi River Basin to develop Community Action Plans (CAPs) as a means of achieving intended outputs of the NRBP-Phase III;
Achievements
NRBP has generated sufficient public interest by creating environmental awareness and change of attitude and behavior among city’s residents. As a result, the private sector partners have expressed the desire to work within the framework of NRBP to reclaim, rehabilitate and restore these rivers. Programme activities include: tree-planting; bee-keeping; mushroom growing; development of ablution blocks in informal settlements; solid waste management; promotion of cleaner production in industry; water quality monitoring; integrated environmental management and urban planning; and restoration of Nairobi Dam.
The private sector has identified specific areas as entry points into the NRBP-Phase III framework. Their participation in NRBP started in earnest with the launching of the Nairobi Dam Trust Initiative in March 2004, an event which attracted high-level political leadership – Kenya’s Vice President. UN agencies were represented at the level of the executive directors of UNEP and UN-Habitat, and UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative.
The private sector has committed to engage in water quality monitoring, waste (solid and liquid) management, catchments rehabilitation, creation of public awareness, rehabilitation and restoration of Nairobi Dam. The private sector has supported the development of An Intervention Plan to address these priority areas of the NRBP-Phase III. They have mobilised KSh. 10 Million in cash for the project, and continues to receive more pledged and contribution in cash and kind. The Belgian Government has contributed US $ 1 Million for rehabilitation and restoration of the NRBP. The Government of Kenya has indicated it will provide KSh.150 Million (US $ 2 Million) to support the rehabilitation of Nairobi Dam and 2.5. Kilometre stretch from Museum Hill R/about to Race-Course Rd Junction - to be completed by December 2007.
Challenges and Opportunities
Nairobi City has been expanding without proper environmental planning. Expansion of city’s infrastructure in terms of urban services has not matched the growth of its population. This challenge can only be reversed through an integrated environmental management and urban planning process.
The NRBP presents plenty of opportunities for:
(i) a comprehensive waste management programme;
(ii) improved water catchments for Nairobi rivers;
(iii) an established water quality monitoring protocol;
(iv) a restored and rehabilitated Nairobi Dam;
(v) an environmentally sensitive and aware public;
(vi) a sustainable business plan for Nairobi River Basin;
(vii) changed attitude and behaviour towards Nairobi’s environment;
(viii) a dynamic strategic partnership between private sector, GOK, UN-Agencies and development partners;
(ix) enhanced capacities to support environmental reporting;
(x) a Tool-Kit for replication and experience sharing in other African cities.
The momentum of support currently being received from both the private sector and the Government of Kenya need to be maintained. This can be achieved through an effective and well-targeted Information and Communication Strategy.
Short-term goals must be identified regularly in order to exact their achievements.
The formula of ‘Adopt-A-Mile’ should be carefully defined, and recognition of every adopter assured, so that the activity becomes a major resource mobilisation strategy.
The ‘Exit Strategy’ should be maintained through increased involvement for the City Council of Nairobi, Ministry of Environment and the Private sector participation.
Mid-term review needs to be conducted, and a process of developing a ‘Tool-Kit’ initiated in good time to replicate the experience of the NRBP to other cities in Africa.
Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together the Government of Kenya, UNEP, UN-Habitat, UNDP, the private sector and civil society. The vision of Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP) is a restored riverine eco-system with clean water for the capital city and a healthier environment for the people of Nairobi. The objective of the NRBP is to rehabilitate, restore and manage the Nairobi River ecosystem in order to provide improved livelihoods, especially for the poor, enhanced biodiversity, and a sustainable supply of water for domestic and industrial, recreational and emergency uses. NRBP as an initiative was launched by UNEP in 1999 as a three-phased programme. The first two phases established benchmarks, identified interventions and mobilized the participation of Nairobi residents.