Once a symbol of life and vitality flowing through Kenya’s capital, the Nairobi River is part of a larger basin comprising several tributaries, including the Mathare, Ngong, Gitathuru, Rui Ruaka, and Kirichwa Rivers. Spanning over 70 kilometers in length, the Nairobi River Basin drains an area of approximately 2,000 hectares, traversing key sub-counties such as Westlands, Starehe, Kamukunji, Kasarani, Embakasi, and parts of Dagoretti and Lang’ata. Historically, this intricate river network served as a natural drainage and ecological corridor, supporting peri-urban agriculture, early industrial activity, and biodiversity within Nairobi’s rapidly evolving urban landscape. However, over the years, this once thriving river system has morphed into a corridor of pollution, neglect, and unregulated urban sprawl. The Nairobi River and its tributaries have borne the brunt of rapid urbanization and weak enforcement of environmental regulations. Key drivers of its degradation include the direct discharge of industrial effluent, untreated domestic sewage from informal settlements, indiscriminate dumping of solid waste along riverbanks, and encroachment on riparian zones by illegal developments. These challenges have not only compromised water quality and aquatic biodiversity but have also amplified urban flooding risks and exposed surrounding communities to serious health hazards.