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The Climate Worx Initiative

An image of people cleaning up the river.

The Climate Worx Initiative

News / Wed, 10/22/2025 - 11:48

Introduction

This is a program commenced on the 1st October 2024 and it was initially called the Climate Resilience Service Program (CRSP) initiative. It was conceived as an employment transition program for youths in Kenya. In Nairobi, it was aimed at fostering climate resilience and economic recovery by addressing rehabilitation and cleaning of the riparian area of Nairobi, Mathare and Ngong Rivers. The programme takes a Multi-agency approach where National Government Admnistration Officers (NGAO) take the lead while NRC plays a coordinating role for all the stakeholders involved. The program iniitially targeted the employment of 20,000 youths every month. However, the number of youths increased to 39,433 monthly, from July 21, 2025, to date through a presidential directive. The youths work under the supervision of National Youth Serviced (NYS) Officers.

Activities
The scope of activities carried out by these youths along the three rivers includes:

  1. Garbage collection
  2. Unclogging of the rivers 
  3. Sorting of debris
  4. Leveling of grounds for initial landscaping 
  5. Establishment of tree nurseries
  6. Sewer lines unclogging & connection 
  7. Sewer line repairs 
  8. Unclogging of drainage systems
  9. Bush clearing along the river 
  10. Demolitions of illegal structures/buildings
  11. Removal of slabs and foundations of demolished structures 
  12. Tree planting 

Approach
This initiative takes a multi-agency approach where various National Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as selected Departments of the Nairobi City County Government support in different ways according to their mandate as demonstrated below.

MDA

Role

Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC)

Coordination of all the MDACs

Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)

National Youth Service (NYS)

Supervision of the youths on the ground

Provision of equipment

Ministry of Defence

Provision of Equipment

Implementation of the Nairobi River Regeneration Catalytic project

National Government Administration Officers (NGAO)

Offering leadership towards the program from the County to the grassroots level

Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development

Facilitating the remuneration of the youths

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry

Overall guidance towards the activities along the Riparian

Nairobi City County Government (NCCG)

Solid waste management

Ministry of Water, Irrigation & Sanitation

Provision of water for seedling propagation

Kenya Forest Service (KFS)

Provision of red soil

Advice on the tree species to be grown

Extension services on tree nurseries

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA)

Guidance on roads and bridges works

Nairobi Water & Sewerage Company (NWSC)

Sewer repair and connection

National Police Service (NPS

Ensuring security for all

Impact
There is a positive economic impact on the communities through the employed youths and the multiplier effect of the same.
Incidents of crime have greatly reduced in the informal settlement areas, and communities attribute this to youths being busy/engaged with a source of income
The riparian clearance has provided space for children to play e.g:

  1. Starehe behind Mater Hospital – Mariguini area
  2. Mukuru Kwa Reuben
  3. Korogocho CombGreen
  4. Mathare North near Kiamaiko Bridge