Rivers Reborn – Restoring Nairobi’s Waterways

Helping Nairobi’s Rivers Breathe Again!

The Dedan Kimathi Foundation is leading the charge, working with dedicated partners to restore the riparian zones of Nairobi’s rivers.
For Dedan Kimathi Foundation, every seed planted and every seedling nurtured represents a powerful sense of hope for both the people who grow the trees and the communities that benefit from them. This hope blossoms into a feeling of satisfaction for the present generation and a promise of a secure future for generations to come. We believe that every partnership we form is a vote of confidence in our mission to conserve the environment.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Foundation led a massive tree-planting event, where 3,500 trees were planted along the Ngong River in the Ruai Division of Nairobi. A diverse selection of species, including Markhamia lutea, Mexican green ash, Senna spectabilis, acacia, and others, were planted to help restore the river’s ecosystem. All the 5,000 seedlings were generously donated by CKL Africa Ltd and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Engineers Brigade at Thika to support the Nairobi Rivers’ Regeneration initiative through afforestation. Beyond capturing carbon, each species was chosen for its specific purpose in creating a balanced riverine ecosystem, giving the river a chance to thrive despite the usual urban pollution.

Guided by the ambitious presidential goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 to achieve 30% national tree cover, environmental action is growing across the country. We are grateful for the continued support from our partners, which fuels our ongoing activities. The high survival rate of the trees we plant is a testament to our collective effort: strong planting partnerships, diligent aftercare by community beneficiaries, and constant monitoring by local leaders. We owe the success of our recent planting activity to the combined efforts of CKL Africa Ltd, Thika Engineers Brigade, Climate Worx Initiative, Kenya Forest Service, NGAO, and the NYS supervisory team.

Dedan Kimathi Foundation is established on pillars of humanity, nature restoration, community development, peace, reconciliation, and national cohesion. We believe that tree planting brings all these pillars together, allowing humanity to express love for nature without boundaries and creating a profound sense of self-fulfillment.