President William Ruto’s government has unveiled plans to overhaul Nairobi’s aging sewer system, which was built in 1970 and can no longer cope with the city’s growing population. The strained infrastructure has forced some residents to dispose of waste in rivers, raising health and environmental concerns.
Under the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, authorities have begun constructing a modern sewer network to meet rising demand. The project features twin trunk sewer lines stretching about 28 kilometres along both sides of the river corridor.
According to Interior PS Raymond Omollo, the new system will run from Naivasha Road to Museum Hill, cutting through Dagoretti, Chiromo and Kirichwa Kubwa before extending to Dandora Falls. Once complete, it is expected to handle up to 310 million litres of wastewater daily, serving estates such as Westlands, Lavington, Kangemi, Kawangware and Kikuyu, and easing pressure on the current system.
The upgrade is being implemented alongside the Climate WorX initiative, which focuses on Nairobi River clean-up, land restoration and tree planting. The project has created over 1,000 jobs on-site, with thousands more young people engaged in environmental activities, as the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration coordinates implementation and ensures smooth operations.