The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Nairobi Rivers Commission chairperson Margaret Wanjiru has announced her decision to resign, informing Head of Public Service Felix Koskei that she plans to leave office at the end of August to pursue other interests.
In a letter to Koskei, Wanjiru issued a 30-day notice and confirmed that her last day in office would be August 31.
She said the time had come for her to move on and devote her attention to other responsibilities. Wanjiru, a former Starehe MP, described her 20 months at the commission as a valuable learning experience and expressed appreciation to Koskei for giving her the opportunity to serve.
She also requested that her successor be appointed early enough to ensure a smooth transition and handover. In addition, she asked Koskei to convey her gratitude to President William Ruto for entrusting her with the leadership of the commission, adding that she hoped they could work together on other matters in the future.
It remains unclear what role or activities Wanjiru intends to pursue after leaving the commission. She had not responded to calls and messages seeking further comment.
Ruto appointed Wanjiru as chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission through a Gazette Notice dated October 25, 2024. The appointment came after the commission was transferred from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
Former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga was also appointed to the commission. The changes followed the nullification of the Chief Administrative Secretary positions, after Wanjiru and Omanga had previously been appointed CASs in the Interior and Cooperatives ministries respectively.
Ruto later removed Pamela Olet, who had been serving as commission chairperson. Omanga, who had been appointed to replace former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu after his appointment was contested in court, turned down the position, citing personal reasons.
Wanjiru was also involved in a dispute last year with the commission’s chief executive officer, Brigadier (Rtd) Joseph Muracia. The disagreement followed allegations of gross misconduct, corruption and nepotism. The matter was eventually resolved after several Principal Secretaries intervened, allowing the two officials to resume working together.
Established through a Gazette Notice in December 2022, the Nairobi Rivers Commission is tasked with reclaiming and restoring Nairobi’s rivers as part of the city’s blue and green infrastructure.
Its operations cover Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni counties. The commission has also established a Joint Multi-Agency Coordination Centre at its South C headquarters to coordinate efforts aimed at tackling pollution and restoring the Nairobi River basin.
The basin has been divided into 18 zones to improve monitoring and coordination. The commission currently has 12 commissioners, while its secretariat comprises 36 officers drawn from various government ministries, departments, agencies and the Nairobi City County Government.
Muracia remains the commission’s chief executive officer.
The commission’s wider objective is to restore Nairobi’s rivers, improve the urban environment and enhance residents’ quality of life as part of efforts to revive the capital’s former “City in the Sun” identity.
