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2007 City Council of Nairobi
The contents and views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of City
Council of Nairobi (CCN) or contributory organizations.
The opinions, figures and estimates set forth in this publication do not necessarily be considered as reflecting
the view or carrying the endorsement of CCN.
The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever
on the part of CCN or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city
or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
A state of environment (SoE)
report is a vital tool in managing
the environment at community,
ward, district, national or global
levels. Under the Environmen-
tal Management and Coordina-
tion Act (EMCA) of 1999, it is
a statutory requirement for the
government to produce an annualstate of environment (SoE) report.
On the basis of the SoE report,
the government prepares five-
year environmental action plans
at national, provincial and district
levels. The SoE reports provide
potential solutions to myriads
of environmental problems from
community to national levels.
At the national level, the state
of environment (SoE) reportingprocess aims to track yearly
environmental issues and
developments and highlight for
action by policymakers, planners
and other stakeholders. The SoE
highlight information on trends,their driving forces, current
policies and any emerging issues.
It also assesses the impacts of the
changing environment on people
and ecosystems. The environment
outlook process greatly enhances
the SoE as a planning tool by
introducing a forward looking
component of the report.
The EMCA 1999 entitles every
Kenyan to a clean and healthy
environment. Additionally, the Act
requires every person to protect
and enhances the quality of the
environment. In this connection,
the City of Nairobi Environmen-
tal Outlook Report (CNEOR) has
identified the factors, which impact
negatively on our environment.
The report has also proposed
actions, for which I expect theCity Council of Nairobi to give
due and timely attention. Indeed,
the residents of Nairobi deserve
and are entitled to live in a clean
and healthy environment.
The CNEOR has been prepared
within the context of UNEP
Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum
(GC/GMEF) decisions and those of
the African Ministerial Conference
on the Environment (AMCEN). The
decisions relate to the implemen-
tation of the Global Environment
Outlook (GEO) process as well
as the A frica Environment Outlook
and Africa Environment InformationNetwork (AEIN) processes which
latter two have been mandated by
AMCEN. The ministry appreciates
the support of UNEP and UN-
Habitat in this process, which
will go a long way to enhancing
the information base for decision
support.
The CNEOR has benefited from
the expertise of various profession-
als. The stakeholders too have
given their input. I, therefore,
expect the Cit y Council of Nairobi
(CCN) to consider the recommen-
dations that have been proposed
and take the necessary actions.
The actions taken should benefit
the productive capacity of our
ecosystem and the quality of the
health of our people. The Ministry
of Local Government and indeedthe Government fully supports this
initiative.
Hon. Musikari Kombo
Minister of Local Government
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FOREWORD
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PREFACE
The protection of the environment is
a priority activity of the City Council
of Nairobi (CCN). In this connection,
the Council is implementing a
number of projects, all of which aim
at controlling pollution, reducing
incidences of environmentally-
related diseases, increasing tree
cover, landscaping open spaces
and planting flowering plants and
grass cover. Additionally, we are
collaborating with other government
agencies to enforce laws that protect
for instance our forest reserves, the
City Park, the Nairobi Arboretum
and the Nairobi National Park.
The CCN is fully aware that
the success of its beautificationprogrammes as well as the sanitation
programme depends on information
and data on the state of the citys
environment. The preparation of
the City of Nairobi Environmen-
tal Outlook Report (CNEOR) isthus a significant contribution to
the programmes of the Council
intended to enhance the quality of
the environment of city residents as
well as their health and support a
wider city strategic planning process..
The Council therefore acknowledg-
es with gratitude the support and
contribution of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the United Nations Centre for
Human Settlement (UN-Habitat) to
the CNEOR process.
The city faces serious challenges
of physical planning; unsustainable
migration into Nairobi; poverty which
is pushing many unemployed people
to resort to informal business some
of which are detrimental to health;
the expanding agricultural activities
which often uses unregulatedchemicals and waste water, resulting
in increased health problems; and
encroachment and pollution of
riparian reserves and wetlands. A
serious challenge to the Council, the
business community and residents
of Nairobi is the huge problem of
pollution and waste management.
Human settlement in Nairobi is
dominated by informal settlements,
which lack basic infrastructure, such
as urban transport, water and
sanitation. In recognition of the
human settlement concerns, the
Government of Kenya has launched
a National Housing Development
Programme. Of notable significanceis the Kenya Slum Upgrading
Programme (KENSUP).
Nairobi lacks a comprehensive
physical development plan; and
neither does it have an environmen-
tal policy addressing circumstances
peculiar to the city. The formulation
of these policy instruments would
go a long way in addressing the
issues identified by the CNEOR,
especially the poor quality human
settlements and pollution and
waste management. In this regard,
the Council will move with speed
to address these fundamental
issues and other policy options
recommended by this report.
Dick Wathika
Mayor of the City
Council of Nairobi
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1CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
IntRODuCtIOn
The City of Nairobi Environment Outlook Report is
an integrated assessment of the environment that
examines the state of the environment, and highlights
the opportunities and prospects of these to achieve
development and enhance environmental sustainabil-
ity. It highlights the impacts of interactions between
human activities and the environment interactions
which manifest themselves through environmental
degradation, pollution and generally poor human
well-being. It also discusses some of the available
opportunities to use the environmental resources as
assets for development.
The analysis is based on a series of consecutive
questions:
What environmental resources are available at the
city level?
What types of opportunities exist in using the
resources to promote poverty reduction and
sustainable development?
What are the main challenges that Nairobi faces inseizing the opportunities to utilise the resources?
What policy and institutional actions should be
taken in order to seize the opportunities?
What would be the consequences if Nairobi fails to
seize these opportunities.
The preparation of this report is to set the basis for
a permanent assessment process on the state of the
environment and thus act as a stimulus for change by
the local government and society. In the short term, it
should provide input into the city development strategy
and thus ensure mainstreaming of environment issues
in all development activities.
POPuLAtIOn AnD HEALtH
Backgrod o nairobiPeople are at the centre of environment and
development in Nairobi city. As the capital of Kenya,
Nairobi is a centre of industry, education and culture
occupying an area of 696.1 km2 (0.1 per cent of
Kenyas total surface area) and hosting about 25
per cent of Kenyas urban population (UNCHS
2001). It is also the world headquarters of two
United Nations agencies: UNEP and UN-Habitat;
and houses regional offices of some UN agencies
such as UNICEF, UNESCO, UNIDO, and UNDP,
reinforcing Nairobis importance as the diplomatic,
commercial and cultural centre in Africa.
nairobi
bodaries
ad Divisios
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Poplaio growh ad disribioPopulation is a major driver of environmental change
in Nairobi and current trends point to the continued
growth of Nairobi (table 1). This suggests a higher
number of inhabitants with lifestyles that demand
high energy, more land for the built environment, and
increasing natural resources consumption. This has
implications for the natural ecosystems that are
crucial for maintaining ecological and ultimately
economic stability.The average density of population
for Nairobi is 3 079 people/km2 (CBS 2001) but
this varies significantly across the different divisions
(see box 1). This has impacts on the effectiveness
and ability of the City Council of Nairobi (CCN) to
deliver services such as health, education, transport,
housing as well as recreational facilities.
Box 1: Saellie images of Kibera ad Mhaiga areas i nairobi
From satellite imagery, one gets a good impression of the population density in different areas of
Nairobi. The image on the left shows Muthaiga in Westlands division, an upmarket residential area;
while the image on the right is of Kibera, a slum area in Kibera division.
Source: RCMRD
Ciy
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Source: UNCHS 2001
table 1: Poplaio size ad growh rae fornairobi 1985-2015
Esimaes ad
projecios (hosads)
Aal growhrae %
Share i corysrba poplaio %
1985-95 1995-2005 2005-15 1985 2000 2015
Nairobi 1100 1403 1810 2310 2841 3346 3773 5.0 4.5 2.8 28.0 23.2 22.5
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According to the UNFPA, human impact on the
environment is a function of population size, per
capita consumption and the environmental damage
caused by the technology used to produce what
is consumed (UNFPA 2001). The environmental
consequences of population growth are amplified with
increasing numbers. But the increasing population
can also be looked at as an asset for development
in the context of labour and markets.
As population increases, so does the demand for
jobs and services such as health, education, transport,
housing as well as recreational facilities. Given
shrinking public sector employment and job cuts
in the private sector, the informal sector is playing
employment interface between the modern sector
and other small-scale activities. By 2005, over 50
per cent of Nairobis labour force worked in the
informal sector (CBS 2006, UNCHS 2001). Women
are key players in the informal sector.
Nairobi contributes 6 per cent to total national
poverty, and about 44 per cent of the population
lives below the poverty line. A number of things
contribute towards this poverty: unemployment and
underemployment; landlessness; climate variabil-
ity; low education; inadequate sanitation, health
facilities and clean water (MNDP 2005). Many ofthese basic necessities are derived either directly from
the environment and the natural resource base or
indirectly from ecosystem services. This dependence
means that the city, and especially the urban poor,
is vulnerable to sudden shocks and changes to the
environment such as water and air pollution, floods,
prolonged droughts, crop losses through diseases
and pests, and conflicts.
The Kenyan government is convinced that employment
creation is the most effective strategy for reducing
poverty and for achieving key targets such as the
millennium development goals. The Economic Recovery
Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation 2003
thus aims to encourage economic growth, generate
employment opportunities, and reduce poverty levels.
This is the major driving force behind economic
activity and consequent environmental impacts.
LAnD uSE, SEttLEMEntS AnDInFRAStRuCtuRE
Lad coverLand resources in Nairobi include forests, freshwater
systems, and biodiversity that hold vast potential for
development if managed sustainably. These include
agriculture, tourism, human settlements, and a vital
carbon sink for the city. Table 2 shows the land use
types in Nairobi.
When Nairobi was established, the landscape was
a mosaic of open grassland, montane closed forest
and moist woodland swampy areas (Ndungu et.al.
1995).
But the growing population is increasingly putting
pressures on land resources. The natural vegetation in
the city area has been greatly modified, and even the
Nairobi National Park is being threatened. Indeed
land use conflicts in Kitengela area, a major migration
corridor of wild animals to and from Nairobi National
Park are now common.
Calculations show that Nairobis ecological footprint
is 32 times its area (GFN 2006). While this may be
low compared to cities elsewhere in the world, it still
means that at current levels of economic production
and consumption, the human load exceeds long-term
carrying capacity of the city (Rees 2003). Box 2
describes the concept of ecological footprint.
Lad se ad lad se plaig A big threat to the development of Nairobi and, in
particular, planned settlement is a lack of approved
and up-to date physical development plans. Nairobi
lacks an approved master human settlement plan
or physical development plan. The only operational
plan approved for Nairobi is the 1948 master plan,
as the revised 1973 version was never approved
(NEMA 2003). Most urbanisation is therefore taking
place in a planning vacuum. Urban planning and
management have not effectively offered solutions
to the increasing urban decay and environmental
crisis. Some of the impacts of the lack of a clear
planning strategy include haphazard patterns of
development with a mix of activities that may not
be compatible with the area, an over-concentrationof employment in the Central Business District (CBD)
and industrial area, resulting in traffic congestion
and environmental pollution, and rapid growth of
informal settlements.
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One land use of emerging importance is urban
agriculture. It is estimated that crops worth over US$
3.2 million are produced each year from irrigated
urban agriculture in the city (Ayaga et.al. 2004).
Women play a vital role in urban agriculture, many
of whom engage in cultivation as a survival strategy.
Urban agriculture does not feature in the comprehen-
sive urban development plan; and while many assume
it is illegal, a close look at the Local Government and
Public Health Acts, and the Nairobi Bylaws, indicates
that it may be practiced under certain restrictions.
While urban agriculture presents opportunities in
support of alternative livelihood strategies, it is not
without environmental impacts.
The risks range from an upsurge in zoonotic disease
to chemical poisoning, and environmental damage.
For instance low-income farmers in Nairobi block
sewers to get the water and nutrients for irrigating
their crops, causing risks from pathogens as well as
any heavy metals in the waste water (source). Kenya is
a signatory to the Harare Declaration 2003 on Urban
and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Eastern and SouthernAfrica which recommends the development of policies
to create an enabling environment for integrating
urban agriculture into the urban economies.
HosigProvision of shelter is also a challenge, with the
authorities unable to keep pace with an annual
housing shortfall of over 120 000 units (Kusienya
2004). Lack of investment in middle- and low-income
housing has led to the mushrooming of informal
settlements. Currently about 65 per cent of the citys
population live on just 5 per cent of the residential
land (source). In such conditions overcrowding and
4 CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
Box 2: Ecological foopri
A cities ecological footprint is the area of
productive land and aquatic ecosystems
required to produce the resources used
and to assimilate the wastes produced
at a specific material standard of living,wherever that land may be located (Rees
2003). For Kenya this was 0.8ha/person in
2003, which is the average for low income
countries (GFN 2006). The average for
Africa is 1.1ha/person (GFN 2006).
Many factors influence the area of a given
populations ecological footprint, including
the population size, the average material
standard of living, the productivity of the
land/water base, and the (technologi-cal) efficiency of resource harvesting,
processing, and use (Rees 2003).
Lad se ype Area (km2) Cover (%)
Residential areas 175.6 25.22
Industrial/commercial/service centres 31.8 4.57
Infrastructure 15.9 2.28
Recreation 12 1.72
Water bodies and river ine areas 11.8 1.69
Urban agriculture 96.8 13.9
Open lands 198.8 28.55
Others (including protected areas) 153.6 22.06
Source: DRSRS 1994 in NEO p.57
table 2: Lad se ypes of nairobi i 1994
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poor sanitary conditions is a cause of environmental
health problems.
Government has formulated a National Housing
Policy 2004 and a National Housing Development
Programme (NHDP) 2003-2007 to operationalise the
policy. A draft Housing Bill (2006) has also been
prepared. It aims to enhance access to adequate
housing and makes provision for the development
of evictions guidelines, and the establishment of
a tribunal to adjudicate complaints. The bill also
proposes the establishment of a National Housing
Fund to aid future housing development.
The urbanisation rate and population-related land
pressures are two policy issues that the CCN needs to
look at seriously. Land is a highly volatile and political
issue and its control continues to be a critical factor
in the development of African politics and economies
(Bruce et.al 1996). With limited land available for
city expansion, it can be expected that this issue
will assume growing importance in city politics. The
continued growth of Nairobi will require a coherent
and pragmatic approach to planning.
5CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
Figre 1: Iformal selemes i nairobi
Urban agriculture in Nairobi
Source: City Council of Nairobi
Source: RCMRD
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Ifrasrcre ad servicesComponents of infrastructure and services discussed
in this section are energy supply and use; transport
and urban mobility; water supply and sanitation; and
health and education. Provision and maintenance of
infrastructure has been a major problem, especially,
within the low income urban settlement.
Energy supply and use
Households, commerce and industry in Nairobi use a
combination of fuels. These choices depend on price,
income levels, availability of the fuel and appliances
that it will use. Energy sources used include biomass,
fossil fuels, hydro and geothermal. Biomass is by
far the most predominant fuel providing over 74per cent of energy consumed in the country (NEMA
2003). It is estimated that 80 per cent of urban
household requirements are met by charcoal (CBS
2002). Baseline surveys reveal that Nairobi consumes
approximately 91 250 t of charcoal annually, equating
to the destruction of over 900 000 t of green wood
each year (Barnett and Ndanyi 2003).
Energy challenges include increasing prices of
modern energy; and low dam reservoir capacity
exacerbated by climatic variability and recurrent
drought.
Transport and urban mobility
Nairobis transport infrastructure is ill-equipped
to handle the additional travel generated by the
increasing population, and other service and
industrial activities. Indeed traffic congestion is a
common problem exacerbated by a lack of space
(especially in the CBD), weak enforcement of traffic
regulations, parking restrictions, land-use control
and the failure to develop an adequate policy and
planning framework.
Dealing with urban mobility issues is an economic,
social and an environmental priority. The traffic jams,
pollution, inadequate pedestrian facilities and cycle
lanes are a major set back to the productive capacity
of the economy affecting all segments of society.
The CCN needs to think seriously about supporting
sustainable forms of transport. Apart from being non-
polluting to the environment, some forms of non-
motorised transport such as bicycles serve a dual
purpose: they provide a means of transport and also
livelihood support when used as commodities of trade
or facilitating service occupations (Kasuku 2002).
Water supply and sanitation
Ground and surface water both play an important
role in water supply for Nairobi. Although the current
policy of the CCN is to rely solely on surface water,
the use of groundwater is becoming important
especially to provide adequate service levels and
as a strategic reserve in times of drought (Foster
and Tuinhof 2005). However protective measuresneed to be put in place to guard against over-
exploitation of ground water resources as this might
lead to undesirable effects such as the lowering of
the water table, the risk of local infrastructure and
building damage, and possibility of land subsidence.
An example from elsewhere in the world shows that
Mexico City sunk by more than 10 meters in the last
70 years from overexploitation of the ground water
(UNCHS 2000 in UNEP/DRSRS undated).
The main problems facing the water and sanitation
sector include access to water, water quality, access
to sanitation and poor solid waste management. Only
about 42 per cent of households in Nairobi have
proper water connections (MWI/WSP 2005). The
urban poor and slum dwellers are the ones who suffer
most from the lack of piped water supply with many
forced to spend a large proportion of their income
on water leading to household poverty. For instance
during periods of water shortage in Kibera slum,
a 20-litre jerry-can goes for up to Ksh20 shillings
($0.27), and yet the majority of residents live belowthe poverty line and spend less than one dollar a
day (IRIN 2006).
The Water Act 2002 provides for water resources
management and development in Kenya. It has
A traffic jam in central Nairobi in March 2007.
Source: City Council of Nairobi
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proposed reforms that separate water management
and service provision, providing for better regulation
of the sector. In 2004, the CCN privatised water
services under the National Water Sewerage Company
in order to improve on water supply and demand
management. The CCN is also increasingly opting for
private-public partnerships to improve on sanitation
and waste management services.
Only 48 per cent of Nairobis population is served by
the existing waterborne sewerage sys tem (ROK 2002).
By Ministry of Health standards, only 66.5 per cent of
Nairobi residents have access to adequate sanitation
see figure 1 (CBS 2002, WSP 2004). The poor
state of sanitation and the inadequacy of sewerage
management pose a health hazard to residents.
Studies have shown that 50 per cent of all preventable
illnesses in Kenya are water, sanitation and hygiene
related (Practical Action 2005). Sanitation in the
informal settlements is very basic. It mostly consists
of earth drains, communal water points, no solid
waste disposal systems and pit latrines each shared
by many people.
Waste management is a growing problem in Nairobi.
The increase in solid waste generation has not
been accompanied by an equivalent increase in the
capacity of the relevant urban authorities to dealwith this problem. About 40 per cent of the waste
generated in Nairobi is collected by the CCN, the
private sector collect about 20 per cent and the
balance is left uncollected, or is disposed of through
other means (Ikiara 2006). The private sector and
civil society organisations are increasingly playing
an important role in waste collection and disposal.
It is estimated that there are at least 60 private
companies engaged in solid waste collection services
in the city (JICA 1998). The Ministry of Health has
produced a draft policy on National Environmental
Sanitation and Hygiene 2004 to address some of
the above issues.
Health and education
It has been argued that the most important and
immediate consequence of environmental degradation
in the developing world takes the form of damage to
human health (Franz and Fitzroy 2006). Good health
is a basic component of human well-being and a
necessity for earning a livelihood. Unfortunately thepoor are much more vulnerable to ill health, and
ill health is itself an important factor in reinforc-
ing the poverty cycle (WRI 2005). Information on
distribution of health facilities is critical in ensuring
efficient access and implementation of cost-effective
health-care strategies including preventive measures
through the improvement of environmental quality.
In 2005, the number of health facilities in Nairobi
was estimated at 389 (CBS 2006).
The main health issues in Nairobi include access
to health facilities, child and maternal mortality
and the incidences of certain diseases such as
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, among others.
Most of these diseases are related to the state of
the environment.
Providing educational opportunities to both men and
women is a means for cultural, social and economic
development. It therefore follows that strategies
for improved literacy and access to educational
opportunities will do much to improve the wellbeing
of the people and the environment. Literate individu-
als are better equipped to participate in solutions
to everyday personal and community problems.
They are more likely to play a meaningful part on
environmental decision making and to take advantage
of opportunities for environmental justice. Illiteracy
levels are lowest in Nairobi compared to the rest
of the country 21 per cent for women, and 12
per cent for males (CBS 2003c). The government
introduced free primary education in 2003. This wasintended to broaden access to primary schooling
especially among poor households.
Source: CBS 2002
Figre 2 Saiaio faciliy sed by nairobi resides
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POLLutIOn AnD WAStEMAnAGEMEnt
Pollution and waste management from industrial,
domestic and other sources are a growing problem in
Nairobi. The main drivers being increasing urbanisa-
tion, rural-urban migration, rising standards of living
and rapid development associated with population
growth.
Waer pollioThe natural groundwater quality is generally good
and reaches the drinking water standards for mostconstituents, except for fluoride which often exceeds
1 mg/l (Foster and Tuinhof 2005). Surface water
on the other hand is heavily polluted with a variety
of pollutants such as agro-chemicals, heavy metals,
microbial as well as persistent organic pollutants
(UON/UNEP 2005).
Disposal of untreated waste from domestic,
commercial, and industrial premises into unprotected
surface watercourses and wetland areas also pollutes
subsurface water posing a danger to human health
and leading to eutrophication, deoxygenation and
habitat modification of the riverine system. Figure
2 shows the pollution hotspots along the Nairobi
river basin.
Air pollioNairobi is faced with two major issues as far as
the atmospheric environment is concerned: climate
change and air quality. These are mainly the result
of anthropogenic activity in the transpor t, energy and
industrial sectors. The main sources of atmospheric
pollution are vehicles, industries, emissions from
the use of charcoal and firewood for energy,
and other municipal sources such as suspended
particulate matter from dust and the open burning
of waste. Figure 3 shows the average total suspended
particulate matter over Nairobi.
The impacts of air pollution range from ecological
to socio-economic. These include loss of biodiver-sity; damage to vegetation, buildings and animal
health due to acid rain; and climate change. It also
affects human health and affects visibility which can
result in traffic accidents or create unpleasant living
environments for people. The growing incidence of
pollution is thus creating new challenges for human
well-being and environmental integrity.
When taken in a global contex t, Nairobis contribu-
tion to the emissions linked to climate change is
negligible. But the impacts of climate change, in
the form of droughts and floods, are already being
felt, especially in the informal settlements, where
coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies are
weak (Action Aid 2006). Other extreme climate events
such as drought have also hit the city. For instance,
the 1999/2000 droughts led to serious power and
water rationing and an influx of pastoralists and their
livestock to Nairobi. The daily loss in revenue was
estimated at US$50 000 for Nairobi at the height
of the drought (UNEP/DRSRS undated).
The government has taken steps to address someof these issues. For instance, the Energy Act 2006
provides for policy formulation including environmen-
tal, health and safety in the energy sector. Industry is
also being encouraged to adopt cleaner production
Solid waste floating in Ngong River
Source: Nairobi River Basin Programme Phase III,2005
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Figre 3: Average oal sspeded pariclae maer over nairobi
technologies and processes that apart from being
good for the environment should reduce costs of
production and improve competitiveness.
Solid waseNairobi is increasingly being faced with vast amounts
of solid waste that are generated and dumped
into the environment untreated. This is partly due
to the rapid population increase; but also due to
the unplanned development of informal business-
es. While the pollution effects of such small-scale
enterprises may be small at the individual firm level,
taken together, may have considerable impacts on
the environment. The city has only one dump site
located at Dandora, and this is perceived to have
reached full capacity.
This has led to the emergence of illegal dumpsites
along road sides, backyards of residential houses
and commercial premises. Despite privatization ofwaste collection, areas occupied by the poor have
not been served.
Since over 50 per cent of the waste generated
is organic in nature, there are opportunities for
Burning of solid wastes at a medical health facilityin Nairobi in 2004
Source: M. Koech
Source: Maluku and Kariuki 2001
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organic waste recovery. Using waste as a resource,
for example through composting organic waste for
reuse in urban agriculture or for energy generation
is one way of reducing the environmental problems
linked to waste and also as a means of reducing
urban poverty.
nAIROBIS FutuRE
Olook: 2006-2025This document uses three scenarios designed by the
AEO Cities Programme to provide a means for the
leadership of Nairobi City Council to strategically
think about the uncertain aspects of the future or to
discover the aspects about which they should be most
concerned. Breaking through the barrier of uncer tain-
ty can provide a useful context for debate, lead
to better policy and decision making and hopefully
translate to better programmes and action on the
ground (Shell 2003).
Because there is no single answer to the waythe future may unfold, this chapter presents three
scenarios for Nairobi over the next twenty years.
The scenarios have the same basic assumptions, but
each one describes a different way in which certain
trends could play out.
The three contrasting scenar ios are equally probable.
However the extent to which they can be realised
depends on the interplay of the various driving forces
behind the scenarios. The power of scenario analysis
is in its ability to prepare the city for any eventualities.
The ability to incorporate these in plans, strategies
and policy reform processes will help policy makers
in making the decisions today that will determine the
future attainment of an environmentally sustainable
city.
The first scenario, inertia implies a resistance to
change. In other words, business proceeds as usual.
Some environmental initiatives are put in place by
the local government however the impact on the
environment is much less than expected.
In the second scenario, worst case increasing
poverty and environmental degradation undermine
the local governments efforts to ensure sustainable
development. Here the capacity of regulatory
institutions and the NCC for environment management
is reduced. Environmental initiatives are not effective,
and as environmental degradation increases, levels
of poverty and disease epidemics rise.
The best case scenario sees responses by the
local government and society actually promoting
sustainable environmental management. A strong
NCC seeks to develop strong institutions and
community leaders to develop home grown solutions
to the citys environmental problems. It especially
incorporates traditional, cultural and other indigenous
values to augment national and other donor-driven
development policies.
Opios for PolicyThe analysis in the first two sections of the document
shows that Nairobi is a city with great potential
for growth and development. Indeed the overriding
objective of the city leadership is for sustainable
urban development that contributes productively to
national development. The last chapter of the City
of Nairobi Environment Outlook Report (CNEOR)
specifies a number of policy options that can
be undertaken to promote economic growth and
development while protecting the environment. Acrossthe sections, a common approach can be identified.
Policy recommendations are then given for each of
the different sections:
Geeral recommedaios The CCN in collaboration with the Ministry
of Local Government, relevant government
agencies and other stakeholders should prepare
a strategic master plan for the development of
an integrated urban infrastructure system and to
guide implementation of the proposed actions. This
master plan should also incorporate the functional
Nairobi metropolitan area, which has forward
and backward linkages with the city. It should
also include a programme for the development of
human, institutional and technological capacity.
The master plan should be subjected to, and
incorporate findings of a strategic environment
assessment study. Environment management needs to be
mainstreamed within all programmes of the CCN.
This will require the following: the involvement
of CCN, government and other stakeholders;
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establishment of a Technical Steering Committee
under the chairmanship of the Town Clerk and
composed of departmental heads, relevant
government agencies and other stakeholders to
aid implementation; and a prioritized work plan,
dedicated staff with a supporting budget.
An environmental policy for Nairobi should be
formulated to promote environmental quality,
including providing measures (environmental
impact assessment and strategic environmental
assessment) for incorporating environmental
concerns in the development and maintenance
of human settlements, commercial and industrial
uses as well as for infrastructure such as transport,
energy, water and sanitation services in which
all stakeholders are consulted/involved in its
formulation and implementation.
Poplaio ad healh
Investing in people
In collaboration with government, strategies for
managing population growth in the city need to
be formulated. These should include measures forincreasing economic, educational, health and other
social infrastructure in other regions of the country
as well as satellite towns of Nairobi. The measures
should include incentive-based programmes
in other parts of the country (such as jobs and
educational opportunities) aimed at slowing down
migration into Nairobi. Additionally, it should
encourage most girls to go to the highest level of
education since girls with high levels of education
have fewer children.
The CCN in consultation with the government
and other stakeholders should formulate a
city development strategy and implementation
programme to expand provision of basic
infrastructure, such as water and sanitation,
decent housing, health and education facilities
and reduce or ultimately eliminate altogether
unplanned settlements. The strategy should provide
for livelihood support; buffering heavily populated
low income settlements sited near industrial areas
and located along air pollution fall-out zonesfrom industrial air pollution; and establishment
of flexible and affordable planning and building
standards that support low cost technology housing
to enhance urban poverty reduction.
Strengthening environmental governance
Urban sector development programmes should
incorporate poverty reduction and employment
creation strategies, for example the promotion of
urban agriculture, in order to improve livelihood
opportunities and human well-being especially for
the urban poor.
There is need to strengthen existing governance
structures with a view to enhancing environmental
management. The statutory Provincial and District
Environment Committees created under EMCA
should be provided with adequate resources and
technical expertise to facilitate proper supervision
of environmental programmes in Nairobi. In
addition, the CCN should further enhance the
capacity of its Environment Department.
Community involvement and public education
processes should be promoted as the basis
for successful planning and implementation of
environmental management, poverty reduction and
sustainable development programmes.
Strengthening health services
To improve access to health facilities, reduce mortality
and the incidences of environmentally-related diseasesin Nairobi, the following actions are recommended:
Develop and implement measures for enforcing
the existing legal provisions relating to improved
environmental integrity and the provision of health
services especially among the poor;
Formulate a strategy and programme of
implementation for improving provision of water
and sanitation services, especially among the
urban poor in collaboration with all stakeholders;
Provide economic incentives on such aspects as
clean sources of energy to make them accessible to
the poor; and
Formulate policies to deal with poverty
Lad se, selemes adifrasrcre
Improving land use and land management
Formulate and implement a land-use policy topromote environmentally sustainable development
by integrating environmental concerns into
land use planning and physical development.
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The policy should address issues of urban
physical development and expansion. It should
provide for the improvement in the aesthetic
and environmental quality of the city, including
provision of recreational open space facilities. It
should also provide for preservation strategies
to deal with natural and man made wetlands
within the city, to enhance their utility and beauty.
It will be necessary thereafter to review existing
laws relating to land use planning and land
development.
Improving the quality of human settlements
Undertake a comprehensive spatial and temporal
inventory of the city on a regular basis. This should
be supported by a spatial information system for
improved urban management.
Develop and implement a comprehensive
monitoring and evaluation programme for
commercial and residential expansion and
development necessary incorporating health, safety
and environmental standards and guidelines as
stipulated by the various laws in Kenya.
A human settlements policy and strategy
focusing on re-planning, slum upgrading andredevelopment of dilapidated formal and
informal settlements needs to be developed. It
should provide flexibility with regard to planning
and building standards with appropriate low
cost technology as a proactive measure to
urban poverty reduction. It should also provide
incentives for the involvement of the private
sector, the housing cooperative movement, civil
society organisations, development partners and
community organizations in the development
of housing. A housing development fund,
co-managed by both beneficiaries and the
government, should also be established.
Pollio ad wase maageme
Improving water quality In view of the threats to human health and
environmental quality posed by polluted and orcontaminated water, the CCN should formulate a
strategy to enhance the protection of underground
and surface water from pollution. This should
include enforcing legal provisions, and the
expansion of existing waste water treatment plants.
New technologies should be explored to enhance
the treatment of waste water and to provide
opportunities for the re-use of waste water by
urban farmers.
A strategy to expand the coverage of the sewerage
system to all parts of Nairobi should be developed
and implemented. At the same time efforts should
be made to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
in the maintenance of the sewerage system.
Develop standards and methodologies for protecting
stream and river banks during periods of increased
storm water quantity.
Controlling air pollution
In view of the limited knowledge on the status
and impact of air pollution to human health
and the environment, the following actions are
recommended. At the same time, ambient air
quality standards should be developed and an
air quality monitoring programme for the city
formulated and implemented.
Improving solid waste management
Formulate and implement an integrated solid
wastes management strategy, which should providemeasures for managing the entire life-cycle
including: controlling waste generation, collection,
minimization, transportation, re-cycling, treatment
and final disposal of wastes. In particular it should
provide for the:
Establishment of a regulatory system to
promote an effective and efficient public
and private enterprises for refuse collection
and disposal. This should also provide
for separation of wastes at source, waste
separation stations and an appropriate
institutional framework.
Creation and implementation of economic
incentives that are aimed at creating wealth
and improving socio-economic status by
supporting recycling and composting as
well as encouraging the development of
technologies for utilizing solid wastes, for
example in brick-making and cement-making;
Promotion of environmentally sound
technologies for use in the reduction, and re-use of solid wastes.
Support for studies on solid wastes collection
and treatment and or the introduction/ transfer
and assimilation of technologies that are
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environmentally-sound for use in the recycling,
treatment and utilization of solid wastes;
Creation of awareness among the city
residents on the harmful effects of solid wastes
and encouragement of public participation,
especially the participation of women,
youth, trade unions and other civil society
organisations in wastes recycling;
Establishment of wastes separations
stations and a supervisory network with an
administrative framework;
Improvement of access roads in the slum areas
to facilitate collection of solid wastes; and
Enforcement of the standards, regulations
and guidelines for solid waste management in
accordance with EMCA, 1999.
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