Next Steps To Adopt-a-River INITIATIVE

Rotary District 9212 is in the process of formalizing a partnership arrangement with the UN Environment to restore inland freshwater ecosystems in the region through a project titled: Adopt-a-River initiative for Sustainable Development.

Initially, the project will focus on the Athi River basin due to its connection to the Indian ocean and the fragile marine ecosystem further downstream. Geographically, Athi River basin (including its tributaries), cuts across several counties including: Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi – with a total of 65 clubs falling within these areas.

Besides the MoU with UN Environment, Rotary District 9212 has also initiated discussions with Nairobi county officials for collaboration on certain aspects of the project (mapping out pollution hotspots along the river; joint efforts to “adopt” and restore sections of the river upstream as a pilot; participation in monthly clean-ups; etc.). It is anticipated that similar arrangements will be made with other counties in the target areas.

The next phase of this process requires that clubs identify sections of the river that they wish to adopt and assess types and sources of pollution to inform decisions on the intervention that they will take to address the specific issue. Clubs will then hold joint fellowships/ stakeholder engagement sessions to create awareness about surface water pollution and the objectives of this project. The Adopt-a-River Steering Committee (which comprises of both Rotary and UN Environment officials) will support clubs throughout these processes.

We encourage clubs to be involved as much as possible in this initiative as the environment is an issue that affects all of us. Interested Rotary clubs are requested to nominate at least one person (or two – including project directors) to be the club’s focal point(s) for this initiative. The club appointees will work with the following ARI focal points to realize the objectives of the project:

Janet Kabeberi-Macharia – District Environment Chair

+254 728 600 106 | d9212environmentchair@@gmail.com

Jane Maonga – ARI Sub-Committee Chair

+254 714 862 862 | maongaj@@gmail.com

Margaret Kariuki – ARI Chair, Eastern/ Nairobi regions

+254 721 246 474 | margaretk91@gmail.com

Mburu Machua – ARI Chair, Central/ Rift regions