President William Ruto has announced that part of the State House wall will be demolished since it falls under the riparian land.
Speaking during his special address at the Nairobi County Assembly on April 9, the head of state said he had received a notice from a multi-agency team regarding changes to Nairobi City, stating that a section of the State House perimeter wall along the Kirichwa Kubwa River encroached on riparian reserve land and needed to be demolished.
“For your information, State House has received notice from the multi-agency team reclaiming riparian land, that part of the State House boundary, the wall, along Kirichwa-Kubwa River falls within the riparian reserve, and it must come down. Yes, it must come down. They have told me at least 15 meters from the high mark. And I promise you that wall will come down,” said Ruto.
Ruto Signals That No One Is Exempt
Addressing members of the Nairobi County Assembly, President Ruto said the decision to bring down part of the State House wall is about setting an example of how a city should be managed.
He explained that a well-run city makes it easy for people to move around, provides clean water, has proper toilets and drainage, and keeps residents safe.
The President stressed that a serious city is one that plans carefully, deciding where people live, how they travel, how businesses operate, and how roads, sewage, and other services support growth.
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He added that an ideal city should also maintain green spaces, properly manage waste, and create a clean, decent environment where businesses can grow and people can find opportunities.
Ruto said that removing buildings too close to rivers is part of this effort, as it creates room for better drainage, sewer lines, walking paths, and public parks under the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Program.
“That is the standard we must now impose upon ourselves,” he said.
Part of a Bigger Cleanup of Nairobi’s Rivers
The remarks come against the background of a government effort involving several agencies, including the Nairobi Rivers Commission, the Nairobi County Government, the Water Resources Authority (WRA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The goal is to clear land along rivers, restore natural river paths, reduce flooding, and improve the planning and development of Nairobi.
Under the Water Act, authorities require buildings to be set back from rivers about 15 meters for smaller rivers and at least 30 meters for larger ones, measured from the highest water level.
Rivers affected include the Nairobi River and its branches, such as Kirichwa Kubwa, Mathare, and Ngong, as well as other seasonal streams.
Multi-agency teams have marked river boundaries in several areas, including along the Kirichwa Kubwa River from the Arboretum to Kilimani.
The Nairobi County Government has since identified buildings as being too close to rivers at different stages of this exercise.
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Recent Demolitions Across the City
On the night of March 31, Nairobi County demolished sections of Gikomba Market that were built on or very close to the Nairobi River.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the demolished structures, especially in the shoe and lower market areas, were within protected river zones. He said clearing them was needed to allow water to flow properly, reduce flooding, and make way for future infrastructure works.
The County government said traders had been warned earlier and advised to move to temporary sites, though traders disputed the timelines and boundary markings.
The county has said the cleared Gikomba area will enable the construction of a modern market, previously estimated at about KSh 3.8 billion, alongside river rehabilitation work.
In Westlands, Governor Sakaja also oversaw the removal of a parking facility and other structures built close to waterways near Westgate Shopping Mall. He ordered the removal of all illegal buildings blocking rivers, which he linked to frequent flooding.
Similar demolitions have occurred in Mathare and other riverine areas, especially after heavy rains in 2024 and 20, which the County Government says have been worsened by buildings too close to rivers and waste dumping, leading to increased flooding, pollution, and health risks.
