Peter@Kenya: FROM SOURCE TO FUTURE

The river knows…opening ceremony for the Future Design Basecamp

“Rûi! Rûi! [ro-ho],” the Kikuyu elder calls as he bows down to the flowing river and stretches his hands toward it. The river knows all! A beautiful piece of wisdom and belief from the elders in the upstream area of the Mathare River. It is striking, and I (Peter de Koning – Country Director Kenya) think the story of the river would fit perfectly into the beautiful novel There Are Rivers in the Sky about the endless journey of a drop of water, written by Elif Shafak.

We are standing on a riverbank with a large group of people involved in the fate of the Mathare River ecosystem, at one of the main tributaries that further downstream becomes the Mathare River in Nairobi. The river and its streams flow from the tea fields and smallholder farms in the hills east of Nairobi City, the capital of Kenya. As it flows further downstream through the northern part of Nairobi, it passes the industrial area in Ruaraka and the densely populated neighborhood of Mathare before merging with the Nairobi River.

Samuel Nyanya, a Kikuyu elder, elaborates on the indigenous view of his community in relation to water during the opening ceremony: “The river knows!”

Where we stand, we can still see the riverbed as a large crab attempts to climb a slippery rock. Farther downstream, the confluence of two of Nairobi’s major rivers plunges, almost black in color, at the Lucky Summer waterfalls near one of Africa’s largest dumpsites. While Leo van der Vlist (Embassy of the Earth) blows on an eagle whistle in all directions, a large eagle or hawk perches in a tree further away, hungrily feasting on his prey.

We have gathered to honor the river with ceremony and prayer at the start of the Future Design Basecamp for the Mathare River ecosystem. Over the next three days, we will work with a diverse group of stakeholders—or rather, problem holders—including our partners, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (WaterWorX), and the Water Resources Authority (Blue Deal), along with community members from across the river’s catchment area, regional governments, religious institutions, ministries, the environmental agency, and others.

Upon closing the opening ceremony with another vibrant performance by a group of young dancers and a talented local band, the guests depart, leaving the Future Design Basecamp participants behind. This afternoon they will pick their accommodation for the next few nights. Forty 2-person tents with beds, a large stretch tent, and a kitchen tent are set up on the playground of a primary school. The idea is for everyone to stay on-site, though a few will be deterred by the heavy rains and cold, as will become evident in the coming days.

The basecamp is really a camp with 40 two-person tents pitched for the participants.

Exploration and preparation

The Future Design Basecamp (FDB) was meticulously planned and built on an extensive preparatory process. It was organized by a collective of World Waternet, the Dutch Embassy of the Earth, and the Mathare River Regeneration Network. More than a year ago, we organised 12 dialogue sessions along Nairobi’s five largest rivers, both upstream and downstream, to explore the common ground between the people and institutions of Nairobi in relation to its rivers. The devastating floods of spring 2024 underscored the urgent need for unified action, highlighting that only through collaborative efforts can Nairobi’s rivers and communities become more resilient to future challenges.

Frank Hekman from Embassy of the earth listening in to  Samwel Goko from Dandora dumpsite and Victor Emolike Ojoo Odhiambo (SDI) while the group is working on their environmental scan.

The basecamp begins

We shake off the sleep after what, for many, was their first night camping ever, and fetch a bucket of hot water from the fire to wash ourselves. Today is day 1 of the basecamp. All participants were carefully selected to be part of this three-day event based on their roles in their organisations or communities concerning the Mathare River.

The goal of an FDB is not only to shape the future of the river, the city, and life around it, but also to build the organisation—or rather, the community—capable of realiing that future and adapting to the ever-turbulent and changing reality. This is not a new organisation but an attempt to facilitate ultimate collaboration between existing institutions and citizens, essential to navigate out of the status quo.

Obunji Moturi (WRA), Hedrique Mboya (community), and Fridah Mwarania (NCWSC) brainstorming before they burst into laughter a short moment after this.

Our basecamp is therefore set up at the source of the river: from the source to the future. It is clear that this is only a starting point for a long journey, an evolutionary path, just as the river meanders its way toward the larger Athi River and eventually the Indian Ocean. Should, by pure chance, one of the water droplets ever return to the source after this long journey, it will become witness to a completely different (urban) landscape.

For three days, we work tirelessly, sometimes interrupted by heavy downpours on the roof of our stretch tent. Twice we are forced to evacuate the flooded work tent and try to make ourselves audible over the sound of even harder rain on the tin roof of a classroom we were granted access to.

Ming’oni Muga from Youthprinua shares what is what like for him to visit the spring at the source of the Mathare river and drink from it.

Day-by-day process

On day 1, we primarily focus on observing the world around us, mapping what lies ahead, and listening to stories to learn whose shoulders we are standing on. On day 2, we zoom in completely on the Mathare River system, envisioning the best possible future and establishing joint objectives. This translates into a beautiful vision for the future:

"A revitalized Mathare River with a clean, thriving, and serene ecosystem as the foundation of social cohesion, cultural pride, and sustainability for Nairobi.

The restored Mathare River ecosystem drives economic growth and fosters tourism, recreation, and business opportunities while providing clean, affordable water for all. Emerging from inclusive collaboration and rooted in indigenous knowledge, the revitalized river flourishes through vibrant biodiversity, resilient infrastructure, and native vegetation.

The Mathare River is a pathway to wellbeing, enhancing quality of life and the dignity of the people.”

On day 3, we focus entirely on developing action plans. This is done in five different taskforces, each choosing their own theme to work on. The taskforces formed are multidisciplinary, sometimes bringing together organizations for the first time, such as the water resources authority and the water utility, with community representatives who have been dedicated to the wellbeing of people and the river in their neighborhoods and villages for years.

Justus Mwaura (WRA) in the taskforce recreation while developing their action plan

Each taskforce develops a detailed long-term plan as well as a short-term initiative to be implemented within six months. Not to change the world overnight, but to show themselves and each other that they can collectively build the desired future. One of the special outcomes and priorities, in my opinion, is the intention to establish a Water Resources Users Association (WRUA) for the river’s catchment area. This is a powerful and participatory tool, rooted in Kenya’s Water Act, to jointly manage water resources.

Mercy Wambugu from Water Resources Authority adds her expertise on water quality to a group dialogue.

For World Waternet, as a partner of the Water Resources Authority and Nairobi’s water and sewerage company, these three days once again highlight the importance of integrated collaboration between governments within the entire water system and water cycle.

The Mathare River is clean

We are coming to the end of the FDB —and this blog 😉…Many participants from downstream communities have never been to the river’s source, located slightly further upstream from our basecamp. As they keep insisting, we board a noisy party matatu (party bus) on the early morning of day 3. We are surrounded by TV screens playing old music videos that evoke memories of the 2000s. No one seems concerned about getting soaked as we descend a slippery path in the pouring rain to the spring where pure water emerges from underground.

We fill our FDB Mathare River mugs and drink greedily. Photos are taken to show family and friends downstream. “This is original water,” says the pastor of a church community in Mathare. “It’s true! The Mathare River is clean!” someone else exclaims.

Drinking the "original water" from the source in the pouring rain. 

The beginning of a journey

It is true. Just as the river begins its journey here, so does the community of FDB participants. The fellowship is dynamic and will only grow larger. The destination is crystal clear for both the river and the participants. So too are the necessity and importance of moving forward together and developing solutions coherently, socially inclusive, in areas such as water management, housing and infrastructure, poverty alleviation, economic development, women’s rights, government policy, and more.

In the coming months, the various taskforces will work on realizing their goals, forging alliances, and solidifying their multidisciplinary collaboration. Stepping into the river, working our way outward. From the source to the future!

From left to right: Peter de Koning; Simon Muturi; Jakob Ollivier de Leth 

The Future Design Basecamp Mathare River was sponsored through the Climate Adaptation Fund of the Dutch WaterWorX program, as part of the Water Operator Partnership between World Waternet and Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, with the support of the Water Resources Authority and the tireless efforts of Embassy of the Earth and the Mathare River Regeneration Network. This article was written by Peter de Koning ([email protected] (You are leaving this website)), Country Director Kenya at World Waternet.