President William Ruto has announced a joint plan between the national and Nairobi County governments to restore the capital’s image.
The President said the two governments will work jointly for Nairobi to reflect the right image of Kenya.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, the President said he had met with Nairobi leaders and agreed on three key priorities.
They are cleaning the city, improving roads, and installing street lighting.
“We must make sure that Nairobi represents the right image of Kenya. I have sat down with Nairobi leaders, and we have agreed on three important issues where the national and county governments will help each other to achieve. The first thing is to clean Nairobi city, it can’t continue to be the city in the filth,” he said.
He said the ongoing clean-up of the city is already underway, led by thousands of young people working on the Nairobi River Regeneration Project.
Ruto said the government is finalising an agreement with private sector partners to expand the clean-up initiative across the city.
“We are in the final stages of signing an agreement with the private sector on how we are going to clean this city; it can’t continue being like this,” he added.
On infrastructure, the President pledged that all roads in the capital will be tarmacked, with the national government providing resources to support Nairobi County in the effort.
He also promised to enhance street lighting across the city to improve safety and mobility.
“We agreed that Nairobi County has no lights; we should have lights. Many things go wrong in the dark areas. I have agreed that the national and county government will make sure Nairobi becomes mobile, clean, and a city that is in the light and not in darkness,” Ruto said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that Nairobi presents the correct image of the country.
The President said they will make sure Nairobi presents the correct image of the country.
Nairobi River revival project promises to deliver clean waterways, affordable housing, safer neighbourhoods and new livelihoods by 2027.
Launched in March by President Ruto, the Nairobi River Regeneration Project seeks to restore 27.2km of river and tributaries while reclaiming riparian land, cutting pollution points by up to 90 per cent, and resettling vulnerable communities without illegal evictions.
The project promises to deliver clean waterways, affordable housing, safer neighbourhoods and new livelihoods by 2027.
Already, more than 40,000 young people are employed under the Climate Works Mtaani initiative, unclogging sewers, expanding riverbanks and constructing trunk sewers. Another 18,000 youth are set to join.
Authorities say the works include a 54km sewer line, wetlands and an upgraded Kariobangi treatment plant.
There will also be engineered riverbanks with parks, trees and a 45m buffer zone.
A non-motorised transport corridor with walkways and cycling lanes will stretch 27.2km from Ondiri to Ruai.
By 2027, 10,000 affordable housing units and markets for 20,000 traders will replace flood-prone shanties in Mathare, Shauri Moyo and Dandora.
Riverfront parks, community libraries and urban farms are also planned, with officials projecting a 50 per cent drop in waterborne diseases and flood displacements.
More than 100 community forums will guide implementation, while the state says land value gains, estimated at 30 per cent, will be reinvested locally.
