Advocacy for the tourism hotspots within the polluted Nairobi Rivers is a creative tool in mobilizing the Private Sector in the Conservation of the rivers riparian reserve

1. Nairobi River Basin Environmental Tourism Advocacy Program
Presented by Milla Menga ( Program Secretariat) April 2014 Stakeholders Forum
Watkins Glen State Park —Schuyler
County (Finger Lakes Region)
Nairobi River — Rocky Escarpments

2. Presentation outline
Background – Nairobi City & Nairobi River Basin
River/ Environmental Tourism Potential & The Gap
Program - Nairobi River Waterfalls Conservancy
Problem – River Pollution & City Waste Management
Program progress needed resources & Sustainability
Involved Stakeholders ( Partners & Sponsors)
Support Contact information - Program secretariat

3. Background: Nairobi
Nairobi takes its name from the Maasai phrase “enkare
nairobi”, which means “a place of cold waters”.
Nairobi was previously known as ‘the city in the sun’
because of its appealing environment.
CITYOFNAIROBIENVIRONMENTOUTLOOK
Restoring the glory

4. Nairobi, Mathare and Ngong rivers, and their tributaries –
Gitathuru, Kasarani, Riara, Kamiti, Mbagathi, Mutuari and Ruiruaka
Nairobi River Basin
Keyphysicalfeatures
Water Basin Management, Slum Improvement,
Employment Generation, waste management

5. CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK
Potential –Environmental/ River Tourism
The city of Nairobi is a
major center of tourist in
the region. Its relative
proximity to many tourist
attractions both in Kenya
and Eastern Africa makes
it an asset of great
importance in the tourism
sector. As the capital city
and a commercial center
it attracts many
businessmen and leisure
tourist.
The tourism Sector is dominated by nature based tourism
underpinned by the rich animal biodiversity in Kenya
national Parks.

6. Tourist Destination
Tourist destinations are characterized by natural or
cultural attractions, often both, together with infrastructure
which facilitates and promotes their economic
exploitation. Among the essential services which a tourist
destination provides are food and shelter necessary for
an extended stay.
Perhaps only two or three waterfalls come into the
category of tourist destination -Niagara, Victoria and
possibly Iguassu Falls.
Is Nairobi a Tourist Destination? YES!

7. Nairobi Rivers Tourism Hotspots
Waterfalls
Important Bird Areas
Urban Farming
Slum Culture
Nature Trails
Tree Watch
Natural Caves
Landscape beauty
Rodents chase
Rocky Escarpments
Ecological Zones
Nature Walk along Nairobi River

8. Tourist Attractions
Tourist attractions have been defined by Goodall
(1990) as "place characteristics, often unique.
There are three major unexploited waterfalls
within the Nairobi Rivers and several Minor ones
that are yet to be well documented ( in Dandora,
Mwiki, Ruai).
 .
Situated within Nairobi, are above hotspots
Tourist Attractions or Destinations? Both!

9. The Gap - Recreational Areas
Nairobi City lacks recreational open spaces-
significantly lowering the city’s environmental
quality, aesthetic value, improved quality of life
and social needs of urban dwellers.
Aquatic recreation (swimming, fishing) ,
outdoor pursuits, park land, municipal depots,
playing fields, golf courses, parks, picnic sites,
scout halls, landscape buffers and community
paths.
CITY OF NAIROBI ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK

10. Program Goal
Nairobi River Waterfalls Conservancy (NRWC) is a
community initiative that aims to protect and conserve
the Nairobi River 30 meters riparian zones and assess
the development impact. – Focal intervention location
is Dandora Ponds IBA KE 35. The project pilot site is
located along the Nairobi River from Outer ring Road
Bridge to Dandora Sewerage Facility in Ruai.
The Falls at Clarendon—Orleans County
(Greater Niagara Region) Fallsea - Dandora(Nairobi County)

11. On- going Activities (2008 to Date)
• Daily cleanup and garbage reuse & recycle within target area
• Conserving variety of bird species roosting in the area
• Advocacy to produce over 50,000 tree seedlings annually in
schools tree nurseries & planting along riparian reserve.
• Educating community members on community based tourism
and Ecotourism
• Developing a 20 km Nature Trail and ecological zones,
• Marketing natural resources including waterfalls rehabilitation to
attract 50:50 home and foreign tourists,
• Institutionalizing 20 community digital desks to professionally
administer the program
• Organizing monthly special cultural & environmental events to
expose the public to the facility.
• Riparian Protected Areas gazettment for recreation like picnics
• Research on water quality and program impact Assessment

12. Problem - Pollution Intensity
Source:NRBPIUCN-UNEP2005

13. Wet season Pollution hot spots

14. Dry season pollution hot spots

15. Trends in waste generation and recovery of
recyclables between 2005- 2015
Garbage Recycling Trend

16. Population trends in Nairobi 1985-2025
Nairobi’s historical and projected population , 1950-2025 (Source: KNBS 2008)

17. Short-term Administrative Projects (2014-15)
Reconnaissance study
Baseline Survey ( Tourism hotspots)
Nairobi Rivers Tourism feasibility study
Capacity Building of Eco–Ambassadors
NRWC Institutional structuring & Registration
NRWC Strategic & Action Planning (2014-2017)
Riparian Zone Tourism Development Master plan
Formation/Strengthening of Riparian Conservation Committees
Modelofmultiplelanduseforsection
ofMathareriparian(KosovoVillage)

18. Program Progress Input
Provision of Advocacy Platform
Advocacy Equipment and materials
Initial three years administrative Costs
Community capacity Building Expenses
Tourists hotspots development resources
In MacCannell’ s model the tourist can be interpreted as a
user of a product the creation which involves a process that
involves, among other things, a resource (the "sight") and
information about it (the "marker"). This presentation focuses
on the resource, in this case, waterfalls as the "sight"

19. Sustainability - Number of visitors to parks
and other conservation areas in Nairobi
Assumption: Waterfalls can attract about 100,000 tourists annually

20. Conservation Fees 2013
100,000 tourists X KES 150 = KES 15,000,000 only annually

21. Involved Stakeholders
 Local Communities
 Civil Society: Community Without Borders Association, Wafuraha
Group, Hope in Friendship-Kenya, Shanty World Film Production,
Fanikiwa Afrika, Brotherhood Foundation, Tuchanuke Group, Jamrock
Ushiriakiano Group, KOEE, Youth for Tourism Kenya, CRME–
Kenyatta University, UON Alumni, NCBA-CLUSA, Nature Kenya,
National Museum of Kenya, Safer Nairobi Initiative, Kenya Red Cross,
Kenya Scouts & Girl Guide Association, RUBICOM, Galaxy
Community Trust, Mother Earth Network, Miss Tourism Kenya,
NAREWEMA, MKUNEC
 Government: Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, NEMA,
NETFUND, Ministry of Tourism & Education, Directorate of Youth
Affairs, Kenya Tourists Board, Kenya ICT Board, TARDA, Kenya
Forest Services, Kenya Wildlife Services, Nairobi City County, WRMA,
, Nairobi River Basin Program, Greening Kenya Initiative, Brand
Kenya.
 Private: KEPSA, KMA, FKE, KUONI Architects, KTIO, Soipogh
Gateway Camp, CUEA Consultancy, Various Private Companies.
 International Institutions: UNEP, TUNZA, UN Volunteers, UN Habitat,
IFRC & Red Cross Crescent Societies.
Proposed NRWC Advisory Board

22. To Support Contact
Email: savenrbwaterfalls@gmail.com
Cell: +254 721 062 393 Lukania
+254 724 509 491 Kariuki
+254 713 257 570 Shakespear
+254 720 273 218 Milla
Model of a negotiated riparian buffer for section of Mathare river (Kosovo village)

23. Falls at Fillmore Glen State Park—
Cayuga County (Finger Lakes Region)
Sustainable regional development
along the Sava River
Team