Rivers under threat as Kiambu County battles pollution crisis (environmental-security link)

Kiambu County is facing a deepening environmental emergency as several of its major rivers — including the Nairobi, Ruiru, Kamiti, Gatamaiyu, Thiririka, Ndarugu, and Karura — are being choked by indiscriminate waste dumping and unregulated farming. Once seen as lifelines for more than two million residents, these waterways have deteriorated rapidly, threatening public health and the ecological balance of the region. Kenya News
Residents in towns such as Ruiru say that the rivers, once clear and usable, are now dark, foul-smelling, and a source of frequent illness among children. Kenya News The primary culprits are twofold: informal settlements dumping raw sewage and solid waste directly into riverbanks, and farmers cultivating crops along riparian zones so close to the water that fertilizer and pesticide runoff flow unchecked into the streams. Kenya News Experts are sounding the alarm — environmental scientists warn that the contamination includes heavy metals and harmful pathogens, raising the risk of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and even cancer. Kenya News
The Kiambu County Government is not standing idle. Environment Executive Sarah Nduta announced ambitious plans to rehabilitate the rivers, including the creation of buffer zones at least 30 meters wide along all major waterways, the relocation of illegal structures, setting up waste collection points, and organizing monthly community-led clean-up drives. Kenya News At the same time, local leaders and environmental groups are pushing to strictly enforce the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, pledging fines and prosecution for those who continue to degrade water catchment areas. Kenya News
Still, challenges remain. Analysts caution that enforcement alone will not suffice unless coupled with long-term support for affected communities. Many of the farmers contributing to riparian encroachment rely on riverbank plots for their livelihoods, and without viable economic alternatives, the pressure will persist. Kenya News As the county moves forward with its restoration plans, the critical question will be whether restoration and regulation can be balanced with sustainable development — if not, Kiambu’s rivers could face irreversible damage.