Last updated: October 2024
The increasing volume of solid waste, driven by Nairobi's growing population, has become one of the city's major challenges (Ref 1, 2). To address this issue and promote better environmental practices, authorities plan to convert all reclaimed illegal dumpsites into recreational and green spaces. The transformation of the former Kangemi Cemetery, abandoned for over 20 years and used as an illegal dumpsite, was the first initiative in this effort. Led by Nairobi's Governor, H.E. Mike Sonko, and supported by the City County, the project was completed in 2018 and serves as a key example of these transformative measures (Ref 1, 2, 3). Previously, Kangemi Cemetery contained over 500 loads of illegal waste, but following a successful clean-up, it has been rehabilitated into a children's playground with recreational area, now named Kangemi Cemetery Memorial Park (Ref 3).
Park-rehabilitation
https://x.com/MikeSonko/status/1068189339467874304/photo/1
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Brownfield redevelopment, Strategy, plan or policy development, Community-based programs (e.g. "Green Your Laneway Program")
Project objectives
1) To rehabilitate former illegal dumpsites, such as Kangemi Cemetery, into a community recreational space and park
2) To improve environmental quality (soil, re-vegetation) and enhance public health by involving community members and local organizations in clean-up efforts and sustainable practices;
3) To provide safe spaces for children. (Ref 3)
Implementation activities
The first clean-up of solid waste in Kangemi Cemetery was carried out by Sifa Cleaning and Bins Services, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), local community-based organizations (CBOs), environment students from the Technical University of Kenya, and Nairobi County government environment staff. Sifa was commissioned through a public tender by the government to clean and beautify the space. After the clean-up, trees were planted, symbolizing a shift in the use of the area. Garbage bags were distributed to residents for proper waste disposal, which was collected and sent to the Dandora dumping site. Additionally, recreational facilities for children were established in the newly cleaned space. A second clean-up campaign was later organized by local CBOs, working with Nairobi City County. (Ref. 3, 4, 5, 6)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was the first initiative launched among illegal dumpsite transformation measures in the Nairobi City County, promoted by the Governor of Nairobi, H.E Mike Sonko (Ref 1, 2, 3). The first round of clean-up was organised by Sifa Cleaning and Bins Services that has been given a tender to clean and beautify (Ref 4). Other participants included Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), local community based organization's (CBO's), Environment students from Technical University of Kenya and Nairobi county government environment staff (ibid). The second round of clean-up was organised together by CBO in Kangemi and Nairobi City County (Ref 6). Public participation was encouraged in the project with awareness raising initiatives to certain extent (Ref 1, 3, 4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was conducted in line with the city's plan to combat urban waste and convert illegal dumping sites to children's playgrounds (Ref 1, 3, 5).)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Support from transitional governance actors, Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Multilateral funds/international funding
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Achieved improved waste management
- Improved soil quality
- Achieved improved soil quality
Economic impacts
- Generation of income from NBS
- Expected generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Nairobi City County (n.d.). Cleaning Nairobi City. Nairobi City County, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Mueni, J. (2018). Illegal Dumpsites To Be Transformed Into Recreational Parks, Says Sonko. Capital Daily, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Dinga, P. (2018). Reducing GHG Emissions through Community-Driven City Clean-Ups. C40 Cities, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Kweyu, C. (2105). Kangemi cemetery to be turned into a recreational park. The Standard, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Ambani, S. (2018). Nairobi’s first illegal dumpsite-turned-children’s playground unveiled – PHOTOS. Nairobili News, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Grey Apple Events (2018). Facebook. Facebook, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Mutavi, L. (2018). Sonko to convert illegal estate dumpsites to playgrounds. The Star, Accessed on September 18, 2014, [Source link];
8.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Administrative Units. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 3 Distribution of Population by Age and Sex. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Socio Economic Characteristics. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 1 Population By County And Sub County. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Munasia, S. (2022). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Makatiani, C. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
14.
Wanyiri, H. (2019). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
15.
Lung'ahi, G. (2022). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2023, [Source link];
16.
Esamai, V. (2023). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
17.
Koech, K. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
18.
Kibaru, V. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
Park-rehabilitation
https://x.com/MikeSonko/status/1068189339467874304/photo/1
Construction at the Kangemi Cemetery Memorial Park
The Star
Seesaw at the Kangemi Cemetery Memorial Park
Nairobi News
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.