Government Vows to Safeguard Nairobi Lives
The goal is to achieve a long-term solution that benefits both the environment and the people living in affected areas.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. Photo/Aden dUALE.
By Robert Mutasi
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Aden Duale, has vowed that the Kenyan government will take all necessary measures to prevent further deaths in the ongoing Nairobi River restoration efforts.
This comes after the tragic loss of 42 lives in about four or five constituencies within Nairobi, reportedly linked to the environmental challenges and issues surrounding riparian land in the city.
“As a responsible government, we will not allow any other person to die. Even riparian lands were not owned by formal settlement people who lived there, as landowners were somewhere else,” Duale stated, addressing concerns over the fate of informal settlers who occupy land near the river.
The Nairobi River restoration project, spearheaded by the multi-agency Climate Worx Mtaani initiative, was launched by President William Ruto as part of the government’s broader environmental sustainability and urban renewal agenda.
The initiative is designed to recover riparian land and rehabilitate the Nairobi River, which spans 47 kilometers across the city.
The project aims to reverse decades of environmental degradation, including encroachment and pollution, that have compromised the river’s health and affected communities living near its banks.
The Kenyan government is taking decisive action to restore the river’s ecological balance while ensuring that human settlements on riparian land are addressed.
The project marks a pivotal moment in the revitalization of Nairobi’s urban landscape, both for environmental preservation and for the safety of residents.
The government has made it clear that it will not hesitate to take drastic measures to protect lives and reclaim the river.
Duale emphasized that the government’s efforts in this regard are comprehensive, with a commitment to ensuring that “the end justifies the means.”
The goal is to achieve a long-term solution that benefits both the environment and the people living in affected areas.
The initiative will involve the participation of multiple stakeholders, including environmental agencies, local communities, and city authorities.
With the Climate Worx Mtaani initiative gaining momentum, the government hopes that the restored Nairobi River will serve as a model for urban environmental rehabilitation projects across the country.
However, the tragic loss of lives serves as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with years of neglect and the urgent need for responsible governance and environmental stewardship in Kenya’s urban centers.
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