Government to Hire 30,000 More for Nairobi River Cleanup Initiative
Government Expands Nairobi River Cleanup Effort with 30,000 More Workers
In a major step towards enhancing environmental cleanliness and community engagement, the Government of Kenya is set to hire an additional 30,000 people to clean Nairobi’s rivers starting next month. This initiative will bring the total number of workers involved in the cleanup to 50,000, consisting mainly of youth and women.
The cleanup will cover a 47-kilometer stretch of rivers, including Nairobi, Mathare, and Ngong’ Rivers, and is part of the broader Climate Worx Initiative. This multi-sectoral effort involves collaboration from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Youth Service (NYS), and local communities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, while inspecting the ongoing cleanup at Mukuru Kwa Reuben, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made. “We shall increase the number of people working on all our Nairobi rivers to 50,000. The government will consider increasing the daily wages from Sh500 per person after the 50,000-target is achieved,” he said.
The initiative was launched following overwhelming requests from leaders and residents of informal settlements to expand the program. Murkomen noted that the efforts of the current 20,000 workers have resulted in significant improvements, with nearly half of the Nairobi River stretch now fully restored.
Murkomen assured that the 30,000 individuals who voluntarily relocated to facilitate the cleanup will be prioritized in the social housing program being rolled out in the area. This is part of the Government’s broader commitment to ensuring residents of informal settlements like Mukuru Kwa Reuben live in dignity, in line with President Ruto’s development agenda.
