Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has outlined measures his administration plans to implement ahead of the planned eviction of the Korogocho community, which resides along the Nairobi River Corridor, following its declaration as a Special Planning Area. This declaration paves the way for the Nairobi River Regeneration Project.
While appearing before the Senate Committee on Lands, Environment, and Natural Resources, chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, Governor Sakaja stated that no evictions are taking place in Korogocho, an area that has experienced demolitions in the past.
He assured the Committee that, as of the latest site inspection, no demolitions or survey pegging had been conducted in Korogocho.
Sakaja Says No Demolitions Are Happening in Korogocho
Sakaja emphasized that if demolitions do occur, his administration will ensure that fair compensation is provided to affected residents.
“The residents of Korogocho are very special to me, and any inhumane eviction is wrong. However, the law governing riparian corridors must be followed to save lives, and compensation, where applicable, must be fair,” he affirmed.
The Nairobi River Commission, represented by its Chairperson, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, clarified that the declaration of the Nairobi River Corridor as a Special Planning Area does not authorize evictions or displacements without due legal process, a resettlement action plan, and fair compensation.
Also Read: What Designating the Nairobi River Valley as a Special Planning Area Means
The Commission added that residents displaced during flood evacuation exercises would be identified by the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) for compensation and prioritized for allocation to nearby social housing projects.
At the same time, Sakaja emphasized that while the Constitution of Kenya (2010) guarantees fundamental rights, it also emphasizes sustainable development and environmental protection as key principles of governance, as outlined in Article 10(2)(d).
He noted that the County Government is required by law to plan and manage development for the benefit of the public. This obligation comes from several laws, including the Constitution’s Fourth Schedule, the County Governments Act (2012), the Urban Areas and Cities Act, and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019).
Sakaja further highlighted that managing the Nairobi River riparian corridor is an urgent matter due to the city’s hydrologically dense nature and the increasing degradation of its drainage systems.
The Nairobi Governor argued that this degradation is exacerbated by uncontrolled development, pollution from solid waste, and changing rainfall patterns resulting from climate change.
He cautioned that the repeated flooding events recorded in 2016, 2020, 2023, and 2024 underscore the need for proactive intervention to mitigate potential loss of life and property.
Referring to a Cabinet resolution from April 2024, Sakaja noted that the National Government had advised residents living along riverbanks to relocate to higher ground in anticipation of heavy rains and heightened flood risk.
Also Read: Inside Sakaja’s Plan to Build 60,000 Affordable Houses in 9 Nairobi Estates
He further pointed out that several sectoral laws, such as the Survey Act, the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA), the Agriculture Act, and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), all restrict human activities in riparian areas to protect and maintain their ecological balance.
The Nairobi River Regeneration and Engineering Works Programme was launched by President William Ruto on March 10, 2025, to rehabilitate the heavily polluted Nairobi River and its tributaries, transforming them into a sustainable urban waterfront.
On March 6, 2025, a notice designated the Nairobi River Corridor as a Special Planning Area (SPA), a legal tool that guides a structured two-year planning process and temporarily halts new developments within the 60-meter buffer zone.
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