COMMUNITY LEADERS CALL FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS TO RESTORE MATHARE RIVER
Nairobi, Kenya – September 8, 2026 — Community leaders and residents of Mathare are calling for stronger partnerships between communities, government, institutions and development partners to accelerate efforts to restore the Mathare River.
The call comes as Nairobi hosts the Nairobi Biennale 2026 and the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) Annual Convention 2026, taking place under the theme “Shifting the Built Environment: From Fragility to Resilience.”
The Nairobi Biennale is running from September 7–11, 2026, at the ASK Showground, Jamhuri Park, bringing together professionals, communities, government representatives and development partners to explore practical solutions for building more resilient urban environments. Exhibition entry is free, with registration required.
Among the community voices featured at the Biennale is Lilian Akinyi, a Mathare resident and advocate for the restoration of the Mathare River.
Akinyi said pollution affecting the river cannot be attributed solely to activities within the informal settlement, noting that neighbouring institutions and residential estates also contribute to the challenges facing the waterway.
“Some of the problems are actually caused by the neighbourhood. We found that there is an estate that has directed its sewer directly into the river. And also we have Utalii College and NYS, their sewer is also directed into that river,” said Akinyi.
She emphasized that restoring the river will require collaboration beyond the Mathare community.
“It needs a lot of partnership. We have to partner with our neighbours if we want a solution for that river, and that's what we are trying to do as a community – to restore the river. We love the river. And we also want to see a better river in the future, a better Mathare River in the future.”
Akinyi said the community remains committed to the restoration efforts and will continue advocating for a cleaner and healthier river.
“That's what we are doing as a community right now. And we will not get tired until we get where we want to be.”
Her testimony highlights one of the central messages emerging from the Nairobi Biennale: urban resilience must be built through community participation, shared responsibility and cross-sector collaboration.
The Nairobi Biennale 2026 is bringing together architects, planners, communities, government agencies and development partners to showcase integrated approaches to challenges affecting rapidly growing cities.
The programme features discussions and innovations addressing mobility, waste management, energy, public spaces and environmental sustainability, including initiatives such as electric boda bodas and the transformation of urban spaces such as Machakos Bus Station.
The event is also being held in partnership with organisations including UN-Habitat, the UN Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility, providing a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore scalable solutions for more inclusive and resilient cities.
The Mathare River restoration campaign demonstrates the importance of translating such ideas into community-level action, with residents calling for neighbouring institutions, government agencies, professionals and development partners to work together to address pollution at its source.
As Nairobi continues to confront rapid urbanisation and environmental pressures, community advocates say the future of the city's rivers and public spaces will depend on partnerships that place residents at the centre of sustainable urban development.
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