Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, is set to undertake the rehabilitation of Nairobi water bodies in her role as the second lady.
The project would be funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF) according to a statement by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) released on Thursday, September 22.
NEMA added that the Ksh1.2 billion ($10 million) project would be beneficial to city residents not only in conserving the environment but also in providing access to clean water.
GCF is a fund that was created in 2013 through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is headquartered in Incheon City, Republic of Korea.
"We held discussions on her flagship program on the restoration and rehabilitation of the Nairobi Rivers Ecosystem.
"The restoration activities covering the entire basin will be supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through NEMA under the project "Enhancing Community Resilience and Water Security in the Upper Athi River Catchment Area," read the statement in part.
According to the GCP website, the project involves securing Athi River water catchment areas at Ksh1.2 billion ($10 million).
"The Athi River Catchment is the least water-secure region in the country with most of its tributaries having significantly reduced or dried-up river flows. Due to the reduced availability of surface water, reliance on groundwater has increased to meet the water demand.
"The interventions include hydrological and meteorological information management; installation and rehabilitation of water infrastructure; and strengthening planning and regulatory frameworks for water resource management," GCP stated on their website.
Just like the office of the First Lady, the role of the office of the second lady is not clearly spelt out in the 2010 Constitution.
However, over the years, the officeholders have engaged in various social and economic projects to help various communities.
For example, Former first lady, Margaret Kenyatta, focused on healthcare for mothers and children through the Beyond Zero campaign while her successor, Rachel Ruto engaged in projects involving table banking among women groups.
