Ministry launches programme to clean up urban rivers

Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Dr Richard Lesiyampe (left) speaks to Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) staff after flagging off vehicles that will be used by Inter Security Agency Anti-Poaching Unit at KWS headquaters in Nairobi, on August 8, 2013. Dr Lesiyampe said on January 28, 2014 the government has embarked on a project to clean-up and restore all urban rivers in the country. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • The PS indicated that the challenge could only be addressed through a joint environmental management and urban planning process

The Ministry of Environment has embarked on a project to clean-up and restore all urban rivers in the country.

The government, according to Environment and Natural Resources Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe, was committed to ensuring that all rivers flowing in urban centres were rehabilitated.

Dr Lesiyampe said that most urban centres in the country had been expanding without proper environmental planning, noting that expansion of the towns’ infrastructure in terms of urban services, had not matched the growth of their populations.

The PS indicated that the challenge could only be addressed through a joint environmental management and urban planning process.

Dr Lesiyampe, who was addressing journalists on Tuesday at the Uasin Gishu County headquarters after officially commissioning the programme, announced that the ministry would start with Sosiani river in the heart of Eldoret Town, before moving to other urban centres.

Governor Jackson Mandago told the same function that he had established a joint committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the river.

Mr Mandago urged all stakeholders in the region to support the initiative and called on residents with premises near the river, to start vacating to pave the way for its conservation.