Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Inclusive River Regeneration

“Can we restore our rivers without erasing the lives and livelihoods of those who live along them?”

Pamoja Trust convened and facilitated a multi-stakeholder forum on Inclusive River Regeneration under the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) program.

The forum, held in Nairobi, brought together diverse voices, including Dagoreti Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Ministry of Lands officials, Nairobi City County Government, National Land Commission (NLC), Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), County Environmental Officers, Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP), Ngong River Regeneration Network Zone 1–6 Coordinators and Community Leaders.

The Nairobi River Regeneration process has immense potential to restore ecosystems and improve urban resilience. Yet, like many large-scale infrastructure and environmental projects, it intersects with the lives and livelihoods of thousands of urban residents, many of whom live within or near riparian areas.

Pamoja Trust’s presentations emphasized that regeneration efforts must integrate robust social safeguards, including Social Impact Assessments (SIAs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and Grievance Redress Mechanisms to prevent displacement, protect livelihoods, and uphold the dignity of affected communities.

The findings from the pilot socio-economic survey revealed the tension between environmental restoration and social protection and the need to find a balance through informed, participatory planning.

One of the strongest outcomes of the forum was the call to adopt the Right to the City Framework. This vision sees urban residents not merely as beneficiaries of development but as co-creators of the city.

Participants also proposed the formulation of context-specific eviction guidelines grounded in Kenya’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Emerging issues from the meeting include

• How can data from community-led enumerations inform official plans?
• Who ensures that compensation is fair, transparent, and timely?

The forum closed with clear next steps:

• Strengthen collaboration among government, professional bodies, and community groups.
• Institutionalize social safeguards as an inescapable part of regeneration.
• Harmonize laws governing riparian zones and ensure accountability.
• Present community-driven recommendations to the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC).