President William Ruto has appointed former Coast Regional Commissioner Nelson Marwa as the Chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission for a three-year term.
The appointment was announced through Gazette Notice No. 16248 dated October 16, 2026.
According to the Gazette Notice, Nelson Marwa will serve as chairperson of the commission for three years, effective October 16.
The notice further indicates that the appointment of Margaret Wanjiru as chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission has been revoked.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Article 131 of the Constitution, as read with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Nelson Marwa to be the Chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 16th October, 2026. The appointment of Margaret Wanjiru is revoked,” read part of the notice.
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The appointment was made under Article 131 of the Constitution and Section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, as read together with the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act and the Climate Change Act.
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Following the appointment, the Nairobi Rivers Commission welcomed Nelson Marwa, saying it looks forward to working with him in advancing the commission’s mandate.
The commission added that his appointment comes at a critical stage in the Nairobi Rivers Basin Regeneration Programme, as the Commission continues to coordinate efforts to restore and regenerate the Nairobi’s rivers.
“The Nairobi Rivers Commission welcomes Mr Nelson Marwa Sospeter, EBS, following his appointment as Chairperson by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto for a three-year term, effective 16th October 2026,” the commission said in a statement.
Nelson Marwa previously served as Coast Regional Commissioner and has held several senior administrative positions in government.
President Ruto has also reappointed Prof. Simon Gicharu as Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chairperson for another three years.
Who Is Nelson Marwa?
Nelson Marwa Sospeter is a career public administrator who has held several senior government positions.
He began his public service career as a District Officer cadet in 1992 and later served in various administrative roles.
In 2016, he was appointed Coast Regional Coordinator, where he coordinated government administration in the region. He later served as Principal Secretary for Devolution from January to July 2018.
Marwa also served as Coast Regional Commissioner, making him one of the senior administrators associated with the national government’s regional coordination structure.
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Marwa replaces Margaret Wanjiru, who announced plans to leave the commission in August 2026 to concentrate on politics as she eyes the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
In a letter to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, she gave notice of her intention to resign and said she wanted to devote more time to other work.
“During the 20 months that I have worked in NRC, I have learnt a lot, and I appreciate you for giving me this opportunity. This letter is therefore my 30 days’ notice of resignation. I will vacate office on Monday, August 31.”
She has since declared her intention to contest the Nairobi governor seat in the 2027 General Election.
Wanjiru has said she will run on the Kenya Moja Movement Party ticket. The Registrar of Political Parties named her party leader in a notice published in October 2026.
Nairobi Rivers Commission
The Nairobi Rivers Commission says it was established in October 2024 to coordinate efforts to restore and protect Nairobi’s rivers.
The commission says its role includes coordinating national government agencies and county authorities involved in river restoration, monitoring compliance with environmental laws, protecting riverbanks and mobilising resources for rehabilitation projects.
It also coordinates the Nairobi Rivers Basin Regeneration Programme, a government initiative aimed at addressing pollution from sewage, industrial waste, rubbish,
and other activities affecting the river system.
According to the commission, the programme includes river clean-ups, improvements to sewerage and wastewater infrastructure, riverbank restoration and other projects aimed at improving the condition of Nairobi’s rivers.
The commission works with government agencies and other stakeholders to address pollution, waste disposal, sanitation and development along riverbanks.
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