Africa-Press – Kenya. Four counties have been brought into the Nairobi River Commission in a move aimed at restoring the rivers in the Capital and its surroundings. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the four are critical in the government’s ongoing reclamation of the targeted rivers.
They include Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos and Makueni, which together with Nairobi will fully participate in the Commission’s activities. “We have co-opted the counties because the rivers under the commission have a direct impact on the people in the counties. We will bring all of them on board,” Gachagua said.
He spoke on Thursday when he chaired a consultative meeting at Harambee House Annex. Present were Governors Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Joseph ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and representatives from other actors.
Gachagua said the decisions and implementations carried out by the Commission will have direct impacts on the residents of the said counties. He said President William Ruto was committed to ensuring the Commission gets the support it requires to ensure the ecosystem of the rivers is properly rehabilitated.
He added that the Kenya Defence Forces have been seconded to the Commission. Brigadier Joseph Muracia will be the Commission’s, Chief Executive Officer.
The DP assured the counties that they will be part and parcel of the Commission and their input will be fully integrated. Ndeti on her part welcomed the move saying they were ready to work with the Commission.
“This is a noble cause. We support the cleaning of the rivers 101 percent. We have to get it right this time around. Whatever is required of us we will do,” she said.
On his part, Lenku pledged his support. “We will allocate resources for the project and we will have our representatives fully participate,” he said. The Commission is chaired by Pamela Olet and has a three-year mandate.
It has six sub-committees to address the different strategic areas and ensure faster realization of its objectives. They include the Committee on Catchment Protection, Riparian and Wetland Protection and Reclamation along Nairobi River Basin, Waste to the Rivers and Clearance of Clog Waste and Dumpsites. Others are sub-committees on Industrial and Institutional Waste and Drainage and Hydrology.
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