Community Sensitization and March
The Ngong River has heard many promises. On this day it heard feet — at least 362 people walking, banners lifted, whistles cutting the air, ninety-two groups and organisations from the network plus partners, and around seventy children moving in a bright, restless ribbon that made adults smile in spite of themselves.
ETCO walked as part of Zone 2, through Kibera and Lang’ata Constituency, because a river belongs to everyone it touches. The message was simple and stubborn: regeneration needs the community inside the plan, not outside it — especially where government evacuation orders and El Niño rains have already taken homes and headlines.
Commissioner Eva from the Nairobi Rivers Commission addressed the crowd, outlining how government intends to work the rivers — including why recent evacuations along Nairobi and Mathare happened under executive order meant to protect lives during destructive rains. People listened with arms folded and questions ready; that tension is not failure — it is democracy sweating.
She urged local leaders to intensify outreach before the next rainy season, because climate action is not only policy; it is warning a mother to move a mattress, a youth to clear a drain, a chief to fight for proper facilitation when people are asked to shift. We echo that call. Walk with us next time — not for spectacle, but so decision-makers see faces attached to riverbanks.
Engaging Children through Feeding Program
Thanks to Chris and Jayne, ETCO had a warm feeding program for children at our new office—bringing joy, a good meal, and community together in Kibera.
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.