WHO WILL SAVE NAIROBI RIVER? There is no way to a healthy nation, environment is the way.
Alphonce Magati, Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) Campaigner and Expert
Snippets
• It is an interesting matter of conjecture when we are caught up in a web of politicking dubbed as reforms, revolution and new dispensation, yet we are ignoring the critical and vital issues in life; deteriorating environment
• A tribute to Kenyatta hospital (or any other hospital for that matter) will ascertain that many patients suffer from water-borne or water pollution related diseases.
• The much hyped Nairobi River Basin Programme, after pooling more than 10 government institutions, have misunderstood the problem and the solution all together
• Apart from the almost tourist-friendly site between the Museum Roundabout and the Globe Cinema Roundabout, the rest of Nairobi River is hysteria.
• The Kazi Kwa Vijana (KKV) on Nairobi River on various sections of the river can be likened to an infantry sent to battlefield without any armoury, for defence or attack
• There is no way to a healthy nation, the environment is the way
SIRI Magatzine. The prevailing effervescent and now reloaded political atmosphere, which is disturbingly endemic to Kenya for a longer time now, condemns some of the critical and vital issues in life to drown in the political cacophony like any other pollutant. It is an interesting matter of conjecture when we are caught up in a web of politicking dubbed as reforms, revolution and new dispensation. At the rate we are taking political appetizers, it is more apocalyptic especially when we are losing the right course. The Hague will come and go, the Ocampo Six will go and come back, but Mother Nature is here to stay with us.
In times of narrow-minded intolerance, in times of political instability and in times of anarchy, it is easier to point fingers and in the process justice accessed; yet when the environment means to avenge on humanity for mistreating her, there will be no scapegoat nor sacred-cow. But where are these sentiments coming from? Take a look. Now more than ever it is an obvious knowledge that 75 % of the ailments that trail Kenyans and African at large, are purely because of poorly managed environment. A tribute to Kenyatta hospital (or any other hospital for that matter) will ascertain that many patients suffer from water-borne or water pollution related diseases. But the question that begs for an immediate answer is, why is that continuing unabated?
It is amazing that in a country with a natality explosion of over a million people annually cannot predicts its future waste generation in black and white. A close eye on the Nairobi River itself could speak volumes of how we are on a non-moving lane, environmentally speaking. Despite the much hyped Nairobi River Basin Programme, the pace and vaguely defined institutional responsibilities clearly state how we have misunderstood the problem and the solution all together. First, pooling more than ten institutions into one objective with a cheque of more than 3.5 million dollars yet deliver such undoing, is a self-inflicted insult and gets gravely close to corruption and impunity.
Nairobi River Rehabilitation Program (NRRP)
For starters, Nairobi River Rehabilitation Programme is a multi-stakeholder undertaking tracing back into 1999 that merge the Government Ministries, United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, the private sector and the civil society to restore and manage the river’s ecosystem. But apart from the tourist-friendly site between the Museum Roundabout and the Globe Cinema Roundabout, the rest of Nairobi River is hysteria. Nairobi River and its tributaries traverse through the whole of Nairobi; from Mathare River, Motoine and Ngong’ Rivers join and flow to Athi River and eventually the Indian Ocean.
Starting at the bridge of James Gichuru Road, the river is fairly clear with a faint trace of smell. At the next stretch to the Museum Road and to the Globe Cinema roundabout, the river is still clear. From this section the total overkill of the river livelihood begin. The automotive garages, car washes, illegal sewage discharge, solid waste dumping take over the river. At the Kariokor Roundabout, the stench heightens. Down further, it meanders into Bondeni and Gikomba market. Here the worst damage is not enough as it meets more shoddy garages. As the river flows through Eastleigh, Buruburu, Kariobangi, Dandora through Kasarani it is no longer a river but an open sewer line. Mathare River, a tributary, starts to get the same lashing at Mathare phase four. Ngong River, another tributary, gets the worst damage from the industries illegal and untreated discharges laden with all chemicals and heavy metals. All these enter Athi River and threaten lives downstream. A case in point is the Kabaa irrigation scheme which is straining from solid waste and chemicals resulting from Nairobi River.
The short stretch between Museum Bridge and Globe Roundabout has not won the hearts and minds of Kenyans, and donors too, given the funding and time period. Something needs to be done.
Kazi Kwa Vijana (KKV) on the River
The Kazi Kwa Vijana (KKV) on Nairobi River on various points can be likened to an infantry sent to battlefield without any armoury, for defence or attack. They work against hostility from people farming along the river banks especially in Imara Daima estate and Mukuru kwa Njenga. Illegal sewer lines and discharges by known and unknown industries/firms at night when there is no surveillance. The presence of illegal electricity wiring across the river poses more danger than the polluted river itself. A part of Donholm estate uses the river as a dump site. Despite of all these, the KKV people have no protection gear leave alone appropriate river-cleaning tools.
There is no way to a healthy nation, environment is the way. Contrary to popular expectation, just encouraging a 10 % tree cover in Kenya is not good enough for environmental sustainability. And especially when Nairobi, Kenya is the home of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), as well as many other international and national organisations like National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). A visitor to Nairobi could be easily mistaken that this city is the cleanest city. Behind the glittering facade, Nairobi is brimming with filth jeopardizing a normal life. A visit to many of our bedroom-suburbs or estates confirms this. There is dirt and dirty water almost everywhere! As for garbage, the eyesore is everywhere including on roads, open spaces and rooftops. Indeed, many urban dwellers wish for sustainable environment. But all the responsibilities will start with us as individuals. Otherwise, environmental negligence and degradation, which is the greatest hazard to existence both on earth and in the heavens above, will cost us dearly.
Name: Alphonce M. Magati
Environmental Engineering,
