Emphasising Ecosystems, Elevating People (3EP): Planning for “Rivers and People” in the Nairobi River Regeneration Initiative (NRRI)

In partnership with UN-Habitat, Nairobi City County, and ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre, this project aims at rediscovering and regenerating Nairobi’s natural assets throughout Nairobi’s river system with a focus on the Ngong River Basin to reduce climate risks, increase biodiversity, and enhance resident’s climate change and socio-economic resilience. The project connects to city-wide river regeneration initiatives and structures the driving consortia for the Ngong River Basin where several underserved, highly vulnerable, unplanned settlements are located close to the river. The project demonstrates how Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) principles can be incorporated at different scales of participatory planning from the neighbourhood to the city. The project seeks to catalyse and integrate river basin assessments and multi-stakeholder visioning, move to the collaborative production of ‘Rivers + People’ plans with the residents of informal settlements (to support integrated development planning), and implement community-driven climate adaptations to generate evidence on the application of EbA in river regeneration. The project will build capacity in Kenya and across the East African region on the application of EbA in urban river basins and sustainable development.

Project Status

The 3EP – Emphasising Ecosystems, Elevating People project, implemented by Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) in partnership with UN-Habitat, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre, and various city actors, has made significant progress in advancing Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for river regeneration in Nairobi. The project focuses on revitalizing the Ngong River Basin, enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and community well-being through participatory planning, capacity building, and advocacy.

As of January 2025, the project has successfully completed key activities, including capacity-building workshops, co-development of the Rivers + People Vision Plan, and implementation of a catalytic project in Mukuru. Despite a challenging political landscape, including government-led evictions in April 2024, the project adapted its approach, redirecting efforts toward capacity building, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy.

Key achievements include the successful facilitation of four capacity-building workshops, strengthening the knowledge and skills of government officials, civil society, and riverine communities in using EbA and NbS for sustainable river management. These workshops also led to the co-development of a shared vision for the Ngong River Basin, fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration.

At the neighbourhood level, Rivers + People (R+P) plans were developed for two informal settlements along the Ngong River. In Mukuru, a detailed plan was completed but later became outdated due to demolitions of riparian land. In Kibera, a Rivers + People Vision Plan was successfully co-created with the community, providing a strong foundation for future regeneration efforts. The community manifesto developed during the project continues to advocate for inclusive and people-centered river regeneration approaches.

The project also expanded its impact beyond Nairobi, with the R+P planning approach informing a green infrastructure plan in Embu County. Meanwhile, the catalytic project in Mukuru, which was not affected by demolitions, has improved floodwater management and provided hands-on training in NbS construction and maintenance.

Throughout the project, KDI and its partners have actively engaged with local and national government actors, contributing to ongoing discussions on river regeneration and climate adaptation. Lessons learned have been shared at international conferences, generating interest in the approaches and outcomes of the project.