Partnership targets Pollution in five Nairobi rivers
The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) and Fresh Life have renewed their partnership to tackle river pollution by improving sanitation, strengthening environmental monitoring and promoting sustainable waste management across five rivers in Nairobi.
The two organisations signed a new Letter of Collaboration covering the 2026–2029 period, extending a partnership that began four years ago. The renewed agreement will initially target the Ngong, Nairobi, Mathare, Kamiti and Githurai rivers, with a focus on addressing pollution at its source.
Fresh Life Managing Director Eric Njogu and TARDA Managing Director Liban Roba Duba led their respective organisations during the signing, reaffirming their commitment to combining sanitation solutions with river basin management to improve environmental health.
The partnership recognises that restoring polluted rivers requires more than removing waste from waterways. Proper management of human waste and access to safe sanitation are essential to preventing contaminants from entering rivers and threatening communities that depend on water resources.
Nairobi’s river system faces persistent pollution from untreated sewage, improperly disposed solid waste, industrial effluent and inadequate sanitation in some settlements. These challenges affect water quality, aquatic ecosystems and public health, while complicating efforts to restore the city’s waterways.
According to the Nairobi Rivers Commission, the Nairobi River basin includes the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers, together with several tributaries, including Kamiti. Pollution control therefore requires coordinated interventions across the wider basin rather than isolated clean-up exercises.
Under the renewed partnership, TARDA will contribute its expertise in river basin management, while Fresh Life will bring sanitation solutions aimed at improving human waste management. The organisations also intend to strengthen community engagement and environmental monitoring while incorporating climate resilience into their interventions.
The collaboration complements broader efforts to rehabilitate Nairobi’s rivers through improved sanitation infrastructure, waste management and environmental protection. In March 2025, the government launched a Sh50 billion Nairobi River Regeneration and Engineering Works Programme that includes river rehabilitation, sewer infrastructure development and flood mitigation measures.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission has also identified waste entering rivers, catchment protection, riparian conservation and monitoring as key areas requiring coordinated action to achieve lasting restoration.
By extending their collaboration for another four years, TARDA and Fresh Life aim to strengthen the link between sanitation management and river conservation. Their approach places emphasis on preventing pollution before it reaches waterways, supporting healthier ecosystems and protecting communities from the effects of poor waste disposal.
The success of the renewed partnership will depend on effective implementation, sustained stakeholder participation and measurable improvements in sanitation and environmental conditions across the targeted river systems.
