NAIROBI– Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary , Aden Duale, has called for increased European Union and UN-Habitat support in accelerating the Nairobi Rivers ecosystem regeneration programme.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with the EU Head of Delegation to Kenya, Ambassador Henriette Geiger, in Nairobi, CS Duale emphasized Kenya’s commitment to leveraging global partnerships for sustainable urban development and environmental restoration.
“The Nairobi Rivers ecosystem is central to our urban resilience strategy. Through strong partnerships, we can restore our rivers, enhance sanitation, and improve the quality of life for millions of Kenyans, particularly those in informal settlements,” said CS Duale.
The meeting also explored ways to expand access to housing and urban infrastructure, aligning with UN-Habitat’s strategic plan set for launch in May 2025.
Hosted the EU and UN-Habitat delegations, led by EU Head of Delegation Amb. @EUAmbKenya and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, to discuss strengthening their support for the Nairobi Rivers ecosystem regeneration program.
We explored leveraging Kenya's historic EU… pic.twitter.com/takkn0JsqS
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) March 4, 2025
The Ministry is keen on tapping into Europe’s public and private sector investments to drive Kenya’s green transition, supporting climate action and socioeconomic transformation under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks for Ecosystem Restoration
CS Duale highlighted the recent National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) regulations, which are set to enhance ecosystem regeneration and sustainable urban development. These regulations provide a framework for improving water quality, restoring degraded riparian areas, and enforcing pollution controls along the Nairobi River and its tributaries.
“The government is taking bold steps to ensure our rivers are free from pollution. The new NEMA regulations will strengthen accountability and ensure industries, communities, and all stakeholders actively participate in conservation efforts,” the CS stated.
Mobilizing Youth for Climate Action
Ahead of this week’s launch of the Climate WorX programme by President William Ruto, where 22,000 youths from riverine communities will be mobilized for ecosystem restoration, CS Duale briefed the delegation on the status of the Nairobi River’s regeneration efforts.
“Young people are at the heart of our climate action strategy. The Climate WorX programme is a game-changer, providing employment opportunities while restoring our ecosystems,” he noted.
Call for UN-Habitat Support in Urban Sanitation and Water Quality
In addition to environmental restoration, Hon. Duale sought UN-Habitat’s support in enhancing sanitation facilities in informal settlements, providing water quality testing services, and restoring riparian ecosystems.
“We must ensure that our urban areas are not only resilient but also habitable. Clean water, proper sanitation, and waste management must be prioritized as part of our broader urban transformation agenda,” he emphasized.
The meeting was attended by NEMA Director General Mamo Mamo, Environment and Climate Change Secretary John Elungata, and United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach.
