Njururi Initiative: A Community-Driven Success Story for the Thika River Basin

Figure 1: Representation of diverse problem owners (NEMA, WRA, WRUAs, Area Chief, Del Monte, Penta flowers, Kenya Defense Force (KDF), Health department, religious institution and World Waternet) in the Njururi community

The Thika–Chania Rivers, vital to Nairobi & Thika cities, local communities, and ecosystems, are on a path to recovery. This is thanks to the Njururi Initiative, a collaborative effort with the powerful mission to "bring back Njururi to the river." The Njururi beetle is very sensitive to all kinds of pollution and is therefore a good indicator of the quality of a river. Through direct action and shared learning, diverse community members and partners are working together to achieve significant environmental and social improvements.

The "Matrix Organization"

The core of Njururi's success is that all stakeholders —organizations, businesses, and local communities — developed a shared vision for the future and action plans during a three-day meeting, followed by the creation of a unique "Matrix Organization." This isn't a traditional setup; it's a dynamic network of community taskforces, all supported by existing river basin organizations. It's about "learning by doing," adapting, and bringing more people into the fold. As a Water Resources Authority manager put it: "Through the Njururi initiative we now see true co-ownership of managing the Thika River Basin."

Securing the Future: The Njururi Fund is Live!

A major win was making the Njururi Fund operational. We chose to host it with the trusted Thika Mid Water Resource Users Association (WRUA), a decision that simplified the process. The WRUA handled all the legal steps, and the fund is now managed by a new Njururi Fund Board, with representatives from key organizations like the WRA, Kakuzi, WRUA, community members, JKUAT, and World Waternet. The Fund received first funding from the NWB fonds through World Waternet, and the allocation was done by the Njururi Fund Board.

Partnerships Making Waves

The Njururi Initiative is all about collaboration. One standout example is the Conservation Taskforce's partnership with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). They teamed up to build a massive tree nursery, which will grow up to 1.5 million tree seedlings! This smart partnership saved over KES 6 million in labor costs and has already yielded 150,000 trees, with 75,000 ready for planting this rainy season.

We've also successfully engaged many other organizations, raising over KES 10.6 million (about €73,000) in funds and in-kind support.

Tangible Results: Impactful Projects Underway

Our taskforces are already delivering concrete results:

• Biodiversity: Surveying the Thika River's rich wildlife and planning future conservation.

• Conservation: Growing and planting tens of thousands of trees, with a huge nursery now established.

• Water Quality & Quantity: Setting up a data hub, mapping 44 monitoring sites, and getting water providers to share vital water quality data.

• Policy & Legal: Identifying policy gaps and planning campaigns to improve river management.

• Recreation: Successfully modified the beautiful "Mau-mau caves & twin falls picnic site," complete with footbridges, amenities, and partnerships, creating a new spot for community enjoyment. 

Figure 2: Njururi community tree nursery at KDF

Figuur 3: Tree planting by WWn and member of clergy at the recreation site

Figure 4: Group picture at the Twin falls during WWn East Africa partnership director's visit

Key Takeaways for Lasting Impact

We've learned valuable lessons for sustainable impact:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Demonstrating real activities is crucial for attracting support.

• Long-Term Vision: Building lasting relationships and structures takes ongoing commitment.

• Value All Contributions: Financial support is important, but in-kind contributions and shared effort are equally vital for true partnership.

• Shared Responsibility: Working together on concrete projects creates a strong sense of co-ownership.

• A Clear Purpose Unites: "Bring Njururi Back to the River" has proven to be a powerful, unifying motto for everyone involved.

The Njururi Initiative stands as a powerful example of how community-driven partnerships, strategic funding, and a commitment to "thinking and doing" simultaneously can lead to transformative change in environmental management. It's a testament to the power of collective action, demonstrating how we can restore both communal and environmental relationships for a healthier, more sustainable future.

The Njururi Initiative has been supported through the NWB Fonds and will continue to deliver impact through the Njururi Community. World Waternet and Dutch Water Authorities shall be able to support long-term developments through the Blue Deal program.