Additional Engagements
After the last bowl of githeri went out, the ETCO room shifted from the smell of stew to the scrape of crayons on paper. Someone opened the windows. Outside, Kibera kept its Saturday rhythm — a cart wheel squeaking, a woman calling for empty bottles.
We had planned a drawing and painting session for children who lean toward art — not as a luxury, but as a way to see who might grow with a little structure and encouragement. Pencils moved slowly at first, then faster, as confidence arrived in small, stubborn lines.
The point was simple: notice talent early. A few children held their pages up without being asked. Others covered mistakes with thick colour until the paper buckled — still honest work. We took names quietly, the way you do when you do not want to promise what you cannot keep, but you also refuse to look away.
What comes next
Children who show steady interest may be enrolled in dedicated drawing and painting classes as we grow the programme. Spaces and materials are never unlimited in Kibera; we move week by week. A cousin leaned over a younger sister’s shoulder, showing her how to mix blue into black without losing the sky. That kind of peer teaching is what we hope to protect with more structured classes.
If you want to sponsor sketchbooks, paint, or a tutor session, reach out through etco-kenya.org and mention the art track — we will tell you exactly what we need this month.
Project Site Visit by Rotary Club of IPSWICH (USA) and Kikuyu (Kenya)
It was a great and engaging day of partnership and learning as we hosted the International Rotary Club of IPSWICH team, led by Environmental Lawyer Chris and his wife, Jane, Former President of Rotary Club of Kikuyu Hon. George Ngotho and Rotarian Yumbya for a visit to our project implementation sites. The visit provided an opportunity to review the project areas on the ground, discuss implementation priorities, and strengthen our shared commitment to sustainable environmental and community development. We also had the opportunity to visit the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC), where we were hosted by Commissioner Dr. Loice Kipkorir, a member of the Ngong River Committee. We explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration and align our work with the Nairobi Rivers Commission's Restoration Framework.
Community Capacity Building Training
We are currently participating in the ongoing PROVE (Public Space Governance Research, Observation, Validation and Experimentation) Pilot Programme, a four-month initiative by Public Space Networks (PSN) bringing together 11 community groups from Kamukunji and Korogocho. The programme focuses on strengthening community organizations’ capacity to manage, protect and improve public spaces as well as restoring rivers and it's ecosystems. The ongoing capacity-building training is helping CBOs and community organizations better understand the connection between public spaces, river restoration and ecosystem conservation, while exploring practical approaches and stronger collaboration among communities, government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.
High Level NRC & Development Partners Meeting
Representing the Ngong River Regeneration Network, I'm having the privilege of attending a high-level breakfast meeting convened by the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) in collaboration with the Kenya Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat. The meeting has brought together Development Partners, Government Agencies, Private Sector representatives, and Community representatives to deliberate on the restoration and sustainable management of Nairobi’s rivers.