The government has announced a large-scale exercise to demarcate all riparian reserves, wetlands and springs along rivers in Nairobi and their tributaries in a fresh effort to protect the city’s waterways.
The notice, issued by the Ministry of Lands on Friday, outlined a multi-agency operation that will begin on December 22, this year, with areas found to contain unlawful buildings, settlements, or risky human activities being flagged for action.
According to Lands CS Alice Wahome, the exercise follows a Cabinet directive issued in April 2024, which tasked her ministry with harmonising and completing boundary marking along the full Nairobi Rivers Corridor.
The operation will cover the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers, as well as Miotoni, Mokoyeti, Mbagathi, Ruaka, Gethathuru and Kibagare rivers from their sources.
“Where unlawful or unsafe developments are found in flash-flood prone areas or riparian zones, their removal will be carried out according to the law, ensuring due process, public participation, proper notices, and respect for the rights of affected parties,” the notice read in part.
“The demarcation exercise will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Land Act, Water Act, Survey Act, EMCA, and Physical and Land Use Planning regulations to ensure the proper protection and management of riparian reserves, wetlands, and springs.”
The ministry stressed that riparian demarcation will be based on the high and low watermarks of each river, a standard meant to prevent encroachment and eliminate confusion caused by the previously misused centre-of-river reference.
At the same time, the government announced that a multi-agency team comprising the Directors of Physical Planning and Surveys, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the Water Resource Authority, NEMA, Nairobi City County and the Nairobi Rivers Commission will oversee the operation.
To enable a smoother cordination of the exercise, the team will move property by property along the rivers, marking boundaries and documenting land-use compliance.
Additionally, residents and property owners along the affected waterways have been asked to grant survey teams unhindered access to their premises as the officials are expected to enter compounds to take measurements, inspect developments and establish the extent of riparian areas.
Those living or operating businesses near the rivers may also be required to submit ownership documents for verification. These include titles, deed plans, leases, building approvals, development permission records and any past clearances issued by NEMA or the Water Resource Authority.
The ministry said the verification process is meant to ensure that only legally compliant developments remain, and that any structures sitting inside protected riparian zones are identified through proper documentation.
The demarcation is expected to form the foundation of the broader Nairobi Rivers regeneration programme, which aims to restore river ecosystems, curb pollution, and reduce flooding risks in the city.
