AAK urges inclusive and sustainable action as Nairobi River Corridor designated special planning area

In response, the recent designation of the Nairobi River Corridor as a Special Planning Area (SPA) is being hailed as a critical step towards addressing environmental degradation and social injustices resulting from years of pollution, unregulated development, and neglect. The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), through its President Florence Nyole, has welcomed the SPA designation, calling it a milestone in building urban resilience and enhancing Nairobi’s livability.

The association is urging the government and stakeholders to extend similar designations to other vulnerable ecosystems across Kenya, such as river basins and water catchment areas, to promote ecological and economic stability. "The Nairobi River Corridor holds immense potential to transform into vibrant urban parks and green spaces that enhance the quality of life for city residents," said Nyole.

"By integrating green infrastructure like wetlands and riparian buffers, we can not only rehabilitate these areas but also create recreational spaces that serve both people and the environment." The AAK emphasized that the restoration of riparian reserves must be guided by the Just City Principles of dignity, equity, diversity, rights, responsibilities, and democracy. According to Nyole, the process must be transparent, systematic, and inclusive, ensuring that all communities — regardless of income level — are treated fairly. "Encroachment is not just an issue of informal settlements but also occurs in high-income areas. Addressing this requires fairness and uniform enforcement of regulations while safeguarding the dignity of all affected individuals," Nyole added. The association has also called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and organizations already working with informal settlement communities.

These groups, having conducted extensive research and community engagement, offer invaluable insights to ensure that the SPA plan is both responsive and sustainable. Poor urban planning and weak development controls have exacerbated the degradation of riparian areas, the AAK noted.

To restore these ecosystems effectively, urban planning frameworks must be strengthened, and interventions must be informed by empirical data such as GIS mapping, ecological assessments, and hydrological models. Furthermore, Nyole called for a review of the rigid fixed-width buffer approach in favor of a context-sensitive, variable-width system that considers topography, flood plains, land use, and vegetation cover for effective riparian management. The AAK also pointed to gaps and inconsistencies in existing legal frameworks — including the Water Act (2002), Agriculture Act, Environment Management and Coordination Act (1999), Survey Act (CAP 299), and Physical and Land Use Planning Act (CAP 286) — as obstacles to effective riparian conservation. The association urged the government to prioritize policy harmonization and legal reforms. "AAK remains committed to working with all stakeholders to implement inclusive, sustainable, and legally sound solutions that protect sensitive ecosystems and enhance resilience against future disasters," Nyole concluded.