The aim is to establish an appropriate institutional set-up for a long-term management approach. Institutionalised coordination and partnerships between different stakeholders are seen to be crucial, especially between the Nairobi City Council (NCC), Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Environment and Natural resources, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, neighbourhood associations and community-based organisations. Such partnerships should be instrumental in planning and implementing infrastructural upgrading programmes within informal and formal settlements. The planning of informal settlements should be incorporated in the NCC City plans.

There is need for a supportive policy- and legal environment. The support and goodwill of the NCC, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources are crucial in creating an enabling policy- and legal environment for such programmes, including the increased provision of water, sanitation and garbage collection.

There is need to identify and consult with polluters of the Nairobi rivers as a basis for managing and rectifying the pollution status in the rivers. Affirmative legal action, incentives and public education should be used as possible management tools to tackle the pollution problem.