To clean Nairobi rivers all agencies must walk the talk

Recently, Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko ordered for prosecution of polluters of rivers flowing through Nairobi. This deserves support from all quarters since it is a health and aesthetic issue. That said, Mr Tobiko needs a reminder that he is not the first to make such an order and the end result is what will be used to gauge his success or otherwise.

Former Environment minister, the late John Michuki came up with such a plan which led to ‘cleaning’ of part of Nairobi River and planting of trees. But the no-nonsense minister didn’t go far and the river remains a sewer trench whose water is still uninhabitable for aquatic life. At the Globe Roundabout, there is Michuki Park, full of foliage and where people can while away time. The bank is beautiful but the river channel is not. Speaking to an officer from the Ministry of Lands, I got a hint or two on where the exercise missed the mark. He took issue with the misconception that cleaning a river is tantamount to planting trees.