Kenya’s President William Ruto has launched an ambitious project to regenerate the Nairobi River, promising to create thousands of jobs for young people while tackling pollution and climate change.
The Nairobi River Regeneration Project, unveiled on Thursday in the Korogocho area of the capital, aims to restore the river’s “natural beauty” and create green spaces along its 45km (28-mile) course through the city.
President Ruto said the initiative would improve public health, boost local businesses and provide a safer environment for residents.
“Climate change is an existential threat facing humanity today. We must confront it head-on,” Mr Ruto told the crowd at the launch.
The project is part of a wider government programme called Climate WorX, which Mr Ruto said would create more than 200,000 jobs nationwide, including 20,000 in Nairobi alone.
Climate WorX is the successor to Kazi Mtaani, a Covid-era scheme that provided short-term employment to young people in urban areas.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said those wishing to register for the new programme could do so via the website crsp.go.ke.
Environmental groups have long raised concerns about pollution in the Nairobi River, which has suffered from decades of industrial waste dumping and sewage discharge.
President Ruto warned that “polluters of the environment must be held to account” as part of the clean-up efforts.
The launch comes as Kenya, like many African nations, grapples with the increasing impacts of climate change, including prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
