Nyole noted that the Nairobi River corridor holds immense potential in the creation of urban parks that would go a long way in enhancing the quality of life in cities by providing green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction.
"The corridor presents a unique opportunity to develop spaces that benefit the environment and the local community. Green infrastructure, such as wetlands and riparian buffers, can be integrated to help filter pollutants and improve water quality".
The riparian restoration, she added, must ensure that all affected individuals are treated respectfully and solutions are applied fairly across all communities while upholding rights to safe and sustainable living environments.
She said encroachment is not limited to informal settlements and affects neighborhoods across all income levels.
The process must be systematic, transparent, and participatory, safeguarding the dignity of affected individuals while preventing future encroachments through sustainable urban planning.
"Given the scale of this undertaking, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential. Several organizations working in informal settlements have conducted extensive research and visioning exercises with local communities to reimagine the use of riparian areas," she said.
She urged the state to leverage such networks to ensure that the SPA plan is responsive to the needs of the affected populations.
Nyole pointed out that poor urban planning has further degraded riparian ecosystems and that inadequate infrastructure and weak development controls have exposed the areas to encroachment and pollution.
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"Efforts to restore riparian reserves will be ineffective without addressing broader urban planning deficiencies. Properly integrating these areas into urban planning frameworks is necessary for long-term sustainability," she said.
She also underscored the need to map flood zones using empirical data such as historical records, Geographic Information System and remote sensing, ecological assessments, and hydrological modeling to guide effective interventions.
Nyole highlighted gaps in legal frameworks such as inconsistencies in key legislations that include the Water Act (2002), Agriculture Act, Environment Management and Coordination Act (1999), Survey Act (CAP 299) and Physical and Land Use Planning Act (CAP 286) that hinder effective riparian protection.
"AAK remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to implement inclusive, sustainable, and legally sound solutions that protect ecologically sensitive ecosystems and enhance resilience against future disasters," she said.