Regenerating the Ngong River. A Journey of Riparian Planning, Renewal and Transformation

The ISEP targets a multidisciplinary group including representatives from riverine communities, academia, government institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the industrial sector. By bringing together these diverse stakeholders, the project aims to harness a wide range of expertise and perspectives, thereby ensuring that the riparian regeneration plan is holistic, scientifically sound, and community-driven. Collaboration among these groups will foster shared responsibility and ensure that both policy and on-the-ground actions align with the community’s needs and the plan objectives.

To ensure a holistic approach to riparian planning, we are looking for participants with a transdisciplinary approach, spanning a couple of disciplines; who have field experience; and who have experience in bringing in the knowledge of stakeholders on the ground.

The In-Situ Engagement Project 2025 welcomes participation of, but not limited to:

• Civil engineers
• Climate experts
• Ecologists
• Environmentalists
• Geologists
• Human geographers
• Hydrologists and flood risk analysts
• Landscape architects
• Sociologists
• Transport and mobility experts
• Urban anthropologists
• Urban planners
• Water and sanitation experts

Application and selection procedure

To apply for participation in the In-Situ Engagement Project 2025, please complete the online application form. The deadline for applications is Friday 7 February 2025. Application forms received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Applicants are requested to submit the following documents:

• Completed online application form 
• An updated curriculum vitae
• After selecting one or more expertise areas that you possess, describe what expertise in that/those particular area(s) you have, and how and where you developed this expertise.
• A motivation essay for the In-Situ Engagement Project (max. 3 pages single-spaced) or a description of participation in projects by the applicant that demonstrates the applicant’s affinity with, or expertise in, the ISEP theme and themes. These documents will be used to select participants for the ISEP as well as consider recipients of financial support request, if applicable.

All complete applications will be evaluated after the deadline and the selection results are expected to be communicated (via e-mail) before 10 March 2025.

Participation requirements

Successful applicants receiving an acceptance letter must formally confirm their participation in the ISEP within one week of notification. Applicants who fail to send a confirmation email within one week of notification will forfeit their letter of acceptance.

Selected participants are expected to take part in the full event and agree to attend all events from 7-14 September 2025, including lectures, field trips, group presentations, etc. Participants also agree to read pre-circulated background materials as generated by the conveners and take part in the online half-day pre-programme meeting in April/May 2025. The exact date for this pre-programme meeting will be confirmed after the selection process.

Language requirements

A working language of English is required and presentations will be in English. No translation/interpretation services will be available.

Accommodation and local costs

Accommodation for seven nights (for out-of-town participants), daily lunch during the ISEP dates, two group dinners, and local transport (as necessary) to all field trip sites are included.

Travel costs

Participants who have been selected are expected to fund their own travel expenses. Limited (partial) travel grants are available to (partially) cover travel costs and visa costs. For more information, please see Financial Support. We recommend that you try to raise funds to cover your transportation and/or other expenses as early as possible.

The project covers a 15-km stretch of the Ngong River riparian zone, starting from Mombasa Road to Likoni Road in Mukuru Kayaba (260510.13E, 9854784.25N). It extends through Enterprise Road to Outer Ring Road in the settlements of Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Viwandani (262723.12E, 9854774.01N). The project also encompasses the Kayole-Soweto area, from Jacaranda to Embakasi-Garrison Road (267714.27E, 9857883.37N).

In April 2024 the city of Nairobi was inundated by a deluge of heavy rain that led to extensive flooding and the displacement of people living in informal settlements situated along the city’s rivers. These settlements are among the largest and most vulnerable neighbourhoods of the city. The Ngong River, heavily polluted by waste from informal settlements, and adjacent industries flows into the Nairobi and Athi Rivers, essential water sources for downstream regions. Industrial pollutants and poor sanitation systems in informal settlements contribute significantly to pollution, exacerbating water scarcity in Kenya. Collaborative efforts between Mukuru residents, civil society, and the government have focused on improving sanitation and reducing waste entering the river, aiming to enhance water quality.

Despite the negative impacts of heavy pollution, incessant flooding and displacement, an opportunity to reimagine urban spaces, particularly riparian zones, in a more resilient and sustainable manner has presented itself. However, without proper planning and management, reclaimed land within riparian zones risks being reoccupied, undermining revitalisation efforts. 

This planning process will explore sustainable solutions, showcasing the potential for community ownership and maintenance of riparian spaces. It will highlight how improving sanitation and creating green infrastructure can improve living conditions in informal settlements.

As such, the proposal for riparian planning of the proposed section will aid in the sustainable regeneration of the affected neighbourhoods, by better integrating them with other parts of the city and improving access to social services and economic opportunities.

By anchoring the riparian planning process in principles of inclusivity and participation, community empowerment will be maximised. Enhanced agency and engagement of vulnerable communities in addressing urban issues that affect their quality of life and improve socio-economic opportunities will be essential. This approach will foster a sense of ownership toward the rivers as vital public spaces within their neighbourhoods, paving the way for a more sustainable urban environment.

The planning process will also align with Nairobi city’s vision to transform riverfronts into non-motorable transport spines, integrating green spaces with urban infrastructure. By offering a model for urban mobility and sustainable development, the proposed plan will provide a replicable framework for African cities facing rapid urbanisation. Collaborative efforts between communities, NGOs, and government entities will be key in addressing these complex urban challenges and fostering inclusive, resilient cities. 

This planning initiative demonstrates the potential for turning crisis into opportunity, offering valuable insights for urban development and environmental sustainability.

The In-Situ Engagement Project will build on this groundwork, offering an interactive platform for reviewing the initial draft plans. The ISEP will feature expert lectures, open discussions, hands-on planning sessions, and field visits. These activities will foster critical reflections and discussions centred around specific sub-themes, ensuring a thorough and inclusive planning process.

Discussions will revolve around critical reflections on the following specific themes: 

• Assessment & Mapping:
  Detailed analysis of the current state of the riparian zone, including mapping of land use, encroachments, pollution sources, and biodiversity.
• River Regeneration Strategies: 
  Clear guidelines on riparian buffer creation, reforestation with indigenous species, erosion and flood control measures, creation of oversight mechanisms that ensure stoppage of solid waste and industrial pollution and the creation of a continuous non motorable spine that connects the informal settlements to the areas main arterial roads.
• Effective Community Engagement: 
  Inclusive strategies that build trust, ensure representation, and cultivate agency. A process where community is placed front and centre in shaping the relationship of post-colonial Nairobi to its rivers. This will not only forge social cohesion in the new urban lifestyles being adopted by its African populations, but also underscore how this might be a strategy to strengthen civic participation and cultural pride in its residents, as part of sustainable urban development.
• Policy & Regulation Framework Gaps: 
  Recommendations for enforcement of riparian protection laws, in collaboration with local authorities, environmental agencies and riverine communities.
• Implementation Framework: 
  Development of funding mechanisms to mobilise needed resources and ensure plan implementation.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: 
  Continuous assessment plan for tracking progress and adaptive management.

The primary objective of the In-Situ Planning Workshop is to reimagine and transform a 15-km section of the Ngong’ River riparian corridor into an integrated, resilient, sustainable and vibrant green space that supports ecosystem and community well-being. The specific objectives will be to:

• Enhance the understanding of riparian ecosystems including how they are essential in supporting human settlement
• Mobilise and engage affected communities and stakeholders
• Identify local riparian challenges
• Develop riparian regeneration and management strategies
• Build capacity and skills
• Propose/design sustainable land use practices that are people-centred and place-based
• Support policy development
• Prepare a draft riparian action plan

Output

The ISEP participants, together with the convenors, community members, and other local stakeholders, will collaborate to produce proposed final riparian zone action plan for the 15-km stretch of the Ngong River identified above. This will be a comprehensive and integrated draft action plan, which will include both spatial and sectoral components, addressing key environmental, social, and economic priorities of the river ecosystem. The action plan will be presented to the local stakeholders after the conclusion of the ISEP 2025 on 14 September 2025.

The project will serve as a collaborative platform to co-create a blueprint for regenerating the riparian ecosystem. It aims to guide the restoration of natural habitats, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate flood risks, while also addressing pressing issues like water and soil pollution. Through stakeholder engagement, the project will prepare plans that foster a safer, healthier living environment for residents by promoting sustainable land-use practices. 

Ultimately, the project will help come up with a structured approach to improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, integrating the informal settlements into the city’s transport system and securing the river’s long-term ecological health for the benefit of both the community and the environment.

The plan will outline strategies for sustainable regeneration, management, conservation, and development, incorporating input from diverse stakeholders to ensure alignment with community needs and regulatory frameworks.

A preparatory program will comprehensively ensure that all relevant data is collected and made available, a detailed situational analysis report is completed, affected stakeholders are identified and engaged, and an initial draft of the river regeneration plan is prepared.

Organisers

The In-Situ Engagement Project 2025 Regenerating the Ngong River is organised by the International Institute for Asian Studies, River Cities Network, Akiba Mashinani Trust, GoDown Arts Centre, Women In Real Estate, University of Nairobi, Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor, and the Government of Kenya.

Convenors

Jane Weru is a lawyer with a Master’s Degree in NGO Management from the London School of Economics. She worked at Kituo Cha Sheria from 1993 to 2001, focusing on public interest litigation to protect poor communities from forced evictions. In 2001, she co-founded Pamoja Trust, which supported grassroots movements of the urban poor. She later served on the board of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) from 2006 to 2010. Jane led the Kenya Railway Relocation Action Plan for the World Bank, resettling 10,000 households in Kibera and Mukuru. She is the Executive Director of Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT), addressing housing and land tenure issues for the urban poor. Since 2018, she has led the Mukuru Special Planning Area project, aimed at improving the lives of 100,000 households in Nairobi. Jane has contributed to national legislation on land and eviction and is an Ashoka Fellow.

Joy Mboya is presently the executive director of The GoDown Arts Centre. She has spearheaded The GoDown’s growth as a site for artistic innovation and collaboration across different sectors and communities. With a background in architecture from Princeton University, she integrates design and creativity to drive social and cultural impact. Joy is a keen advocate for culture-led development, serving in diverse groups, such as the Creative Economy Working Group in Kenya and other pan-African cultural networks. She is currently stewarding the transformation of The GoDown into a 25,000sqm civic-scale public-benefit institution, blending cultural programming with social and commercial activities, a model of inclusive urban regeneration. Her leadership emphasises participatory processes and stakeholder engagement, where culture can mobilise community participation and build ownership. Joy’s accolades, including the Order of the Grand Warrior Kenyan commendation, and international honours such as the Chevelière des Arts et des Lettres, reflect her commitment to transformative cultural leadership.

Rita Padawangi is Associate Professor at the College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences. A sociologist by training, her research interests are social movements, environmental justice, and participatory urban development. She explores and applies collaborative approaches in research, teaching, and community engagement. She coordinates the Southeast Asia Neighborhoods Network (SEANNET), an research and education initiative on urban life in the region. She is editor of Routledge Handbook of Urbanization in Southeast Asia (2019) and co-edited Cities by and for the People in Asia (Amsterdam University Press, 2019). She recently published Urban Development in Southeast Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2022) and co-edited River Cities in Asia (Amsterdam University Press, 2022). 

Robert Sangori serves as an Assistant Director of Urban Development and Head of Urban Land, Environmental Safeguard and Climate Change at the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Kenya. Dr Sangori served in Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP 1) as the environmental Safeguards Officer where he supported Counties and subnational units notable Municipalities in mainstreaming resilience and safeguard requirements within their infrastructure projects design and implementation. He has served in the public service for the last 15 years and holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental Planning and Management, and a Masters’ Degree in the same discipline. He is currently the lead of Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) which seeks to build resilience and enhance the adaptive capacity of the urban poor against adverse climate change effects and disasters. BCRUP is set to be piloted in 17 African Countries.

IIAS can offer a limited number of (partial) travel grants to highly qualified candidates. A travel grant covers (partial) travel expenses and may also consist of a reduced registration fee in selected cases.

Please note that the number of applications for financial support is likely to exceed the number of available grants and selected participants are encouraged to apply for and secure external support as early as possible. Recipients will be selected with consideration to financial need and demonstrated motivation for participating in the In-Situ Engagement Project.

How to apply for a scholarship?

Before submitting the travel grant application, please complete the online application form for the ISEP 2025. Without a completed application form on file, we cannot process your travel grant application.

Prospective candidates for a travel grant are required to submit the following required document by Friday 7 February 2025 to Ms Wai Cheung via email at: w.m.cheung@iias.nl 

The travel grant application should include the following document:

• Statement of Purpose (approximately one page, may be single-spaced)

Please explain why the In Situ Engagement Project in Nairobi, Kenya would be important to your career and why you feel you deserve a travel grant. Please also outline the reasons why you need a travel grant.