Kisumu, a Generation Restoration pilot city, developed a strategy for the Auji River cleanup and restoration, to improve its habitats, protect local species, and benefit nearby communities and the Lake Victoria ecosystem downstream.

About the city

Kisumu has a population of approximately 422,000 residents, while the metro area is home to approximately 1.2 million residents. Kisumu is a port city situated on the shore of Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, in central-western Kenya. It has a tropical rainforest climate, with significant rainfall throughout the year. Kisumu is a fast-growing city that is a significant industrial, financial, and service hub, home to key industries such as agricultural processing, sugar, and textiles.   

Local challenges

With intensifying climate change, Kisumu is experiencing periods of prolonged drought, as well as increased temperatures and heatwaves. At the same time, Kisumu receives periodic intense rainfall, resulting in rising lake water levels and urban flooding challenges, particularly in low-lying areas, as well as increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases. These challenges, coupled with unsustainable resource use, conversion of green space into agricultural and urban land, and pollution in the form of plastic and solid waste, have degraded the surrounding environment, resulting in challenges including terrestrial and aquatic species extinction, pest proliferation, and habitat destruction. 

The specific site of concern for the Generation Restoration project in Kisumu is the Auji River, a tropical urban river that provides water for both domestic and agricultural use in the city. The Auji River, originating in the Kajulu Hills, flows through various informal settlements before discharging into Lake Victoria. Within the river system, Auji Creek is particularly important for its drainage and stormwater management capabilities, spawning areas for fish, and breeding sites for hippos. However, the river and creek have both become severely degraded over time, particularly due to pollution from agricultural runoff from the nearby sugar industry, and sewage and dumping from surrounding communities. Simultaneously, there is proliferation of invasive species, further altering the aquatic environment. 

Action through Generation Restoration

The pilot project in Kisumu aimed to initiate ecosystem restoration along the Auji River through revegetation, pollution reduction, rehabilitation, and biodiversity enhancement, to improve habitat, protect local species and breeding sites, and support urban communities’ wellbeing.

The project began with a baseline assessment of the Auji River conditions, including a stakeholder mapping, review of the regulatory context, and site visits. The stakeholder mapping identified the organizations, institutions, and individuals relevant to the project, analyzed their interests and capacities for involvement, and determined roles and responsibilities moving forward. This included informal communities, government agencies, community-based organizations along the Auji River, local and international NGOs, and academic institutions. 

Site visits were also carried out along the Auji River, to determine the baseline socio-economic and environmental conditions along the river, including the climate, biodiversity, and pollution challenges present in the river, and existing restoration efforts. This also provided an opportunity for community consultations on the proposed restoration activities. Furthermore, a regulatory analysis to determine the broader context around nature-based solutions in Kisumu was undertaken, noting the regulatory frameworks that would support the project’s long-term success.

Another important preliminary step was the project’s inclusivity analysis. This was essential to ensure that the project team accurately represented the diverse array of stakeholders needed to address the challenges in the Auji River, and that interventions would appropriately address community concerns, particularly among more vulnerable groups. This included focus group discussions, co-design workshops, and the formation of a technical working group, resulting in preliminary project design. The proposed interventions included establishing a green corridor, creating a community tree nursery, implementing clean-up programs, and implementing environmental education programs to build local capacity. Ultimately, this work culminated in a comprehensive plan for future restoration work to be implemented, and for eventual scale-up in other areas of Kisumu.

From there, the project conducted robust stakeholder engagement to raise awareness and spur restoration activities, through four workshops engaging over 350 community stakeholders. Participants included leaders of local grassroots initiatives and landowners, women and youth groups, and community-based organizations. This served not only to raise awareness of ecosystem restoration, but also to encourage further engagement and shared responsibility in the project through knowledge sharing and participatory inputs on project design. Topics covered included tree nursery establishment, nature-based solutions in urban planning and circular economy, and sustainable tourism. 

As part of this stakeholder engagement, community members were engaged in various onsite demonstrations in ecosystem protection and restoration activities, including invasive species clearance within and around the Auji River, plastic pollution clean-up in the river, planting of 1500 trees with 80% survival rate and napier grass along a 3-kilometer stretch of the river, and preparation of land earmarked for tree nursery establishment. These activities involved media coverage through social media and were showcased on government websites to increase visibility.

A community tree nursery and composting education center were established through the project, to support afforestation and agroforestry along the Auji River and the surrounding areas. Following consultation with community members and local leaders, a site was secured, and the nursery and center were outfitted with various materials for planting and composting. Managed by a community environmental champion, the project also provided technical capacity building and training on nursery operations, site ecology, composting and organic farming, and pollution control. Once operational, the center then became a site for environmental education among local youth.

To continue and amplify project activities, the project also enabled a roadmap for scaling up nature-based solutions initiatives across four critical sectors within the Kisumu county government. Building on lessons learned from the pilot project and other restoration work, the scale-up strategy focused on evidence-based strategies for expanding successful nature-based solutions models, practical implementation frameworks adapted to local contexts, policy recommendations for institutional strengthening, financing mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability, and integration approaches that maximize cross-sectoral benefits. As part of this initiative, the project developed a funding proposal to request further financial support for wetland rehabilitation in the area. 

Furthermore, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for the pilot project was developed. The aim was to build local capacity in monitoring and evaluation while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Auji River restoration efforts. This included the development and monitoring of various key performance indicators, including environmental metrics such as tree cover and invasive species control, as well as social and institutional metrics such as women’s participation and inter-agency coordination. This also outlined key roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation for the project and ensuring strong and ongoing links to the communities involved with and impacted by the project.

Main outcomes

The pilot project in Kisumu showcased an inclusive approach to river restoration, rooted in robust community participation and comprehensive planning for project scale-up. The project resulted in various tangible restoration activities in the Auji River, including preliminary work to establish a green corridor, integrating tree planting, erosion control, and native vegetation restoration. This was supported through the establishment of a tree nursery and composting center, which not only serves as a physical space by which to support restoration activities, but also provides substantial social benefits. By hiring nursery attendants and compost managers, the project supported green job creation, particularly among women and youth. At the same time, the center’s education programming in conservation methods can stimulate environmental action beyond the project itself.

The project’s inclusivity approach provides a novel framework for ensuring diverse participation and representation in restoration activities, and that marginalized groups derive maximal benefits from the project. Furthermore, the inclusivity analysis enabled various best practices to ensure diverse and inclusive participation in the project, including holding community meetings in neutral spaces, ensuring that all actors involved in the Auji River restoration were adequately informed and involved in the project, and maintaining regular communications with participants throughout the project.

The development of a robust monitoring and evaluation plan provided actionable measures to ensure project progress. Through this plan, the project achieved measurable impacts, including the establishment of 40,000 seedlings in the nursery, engagement of over 350 community members, and training of 30 county staff.

Highlight impact metrics

  • Restoration of a 3 km stretch of the Auji River
  • Increase of indigenous natural vegetation
  • Solid waste management through composting and recycling of organic waste and plastics 
  • 1,500 trees planted (with an additional 1,500 planted through a local NGO) to establish a green corridor along the two biodiversity hotspots on River Auji
  • Establishment of a community owned tree nursery to support continuous green corridor expansion along the river that the pilot did not cover
  • Black Soldier Fly composting of organic waste

Pilot City

City Map

Partners

Ecosystem Types

Freshwaters y Urban areas

Project Budget

$80,000 USD

Project Duration

August 2024 – August 2025

Climate, Biodiversity, and Pollution Risks Addressed

  • Extreme temperatures
  • Droughts
  • Extreme precipitation / flooding
  • Habitat destruction
  • Invasive species
  • Species loss / extinction
  • Ecosystem degradation
  • Water pollution
  • Soil contamination
  • Waste mismanagement

Restoration Techniques Applied

  • Composting
  • Ecological connectivity
  • Invasive species control
  • Native species
  • Riverbank restoration
  • Tree planting
  • Waste management

Key learnings & next steps

The pilot project in Kisumu generated several important learnings that will inform future restoration efforts in the city and beyond:

  • Inclusive and targeted community engagement: One of the central takeaways was the importance of inclusive and targeted community engagement. Focusing outreach and participation on key local groups, including indigenous communities, women, and youth, proved essential for building trust, fostering ownership, and ensuring that restoration efforts reflected local priorities. Tailoring project discussions to specific local concerns, such as waste management and tree planting, made restoration more relatable and actionable for community members.
  • Participatory processes and capacity building: Creating accessible, informal spaces for dialogue, such as during community clean-ups and through casual meetings, helped to establish a safe environment in which residents could openly share concerns and contribute to identifying solutions. This participatory atmosphere strengthened local connections and enhanced a sense of shared responsibility for Kisumu’s environment. The project also underscored the importance of capacity building in nature-based solutions and value-chain creation, utilizing environmental restoration as a means of socio-economic empowerment among participants.
  • Tree nursery: In particular, the tree nursery initiative demonstrated how localized, community-led projects can generate lasting benefits. Recommendations include replicating similar nurseries along other urban rivers, engaging local schools through environmental clubs to build youth awareness, and highlighting the project through government communications channels.
  • Learning and adaptation: The project’s monitoring and evaluation process highlighted the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Its success relied on strong community ownership, technical rigor, and sustained institutional collaboration. Ongoing evaluation and flexible adaptation will remain key to maintaining the project’s relevance and ensuring that restoration efforts continue to advance Kisumu’s resilience and ecological restoration goals.

Looking ahead, several opportunities have emerged to scale up and sustain the project’s impact. Expanding restoration activities along riparian zones throughout Kisumu County can build on the success of the pilot project, while formalizing institutional support from the County Government will ensure long-term maintenance and monitoring. Training programs focused on nature-based practices and the establishment of payment for ecosystem services mechanisms could provide financial incentives and strengthen project sustainability.

Meet the community

The Generation Restoration pilot project supported by UNEP, implemented along a section of River Auji, was very inclusive. Our voices at the grassroots level were heard and taken into consideration from inception to end; others should emulate the same.

—Peter, a leader from the community-based organization United Destiny Shapers 

It was a very engaging 12 months. We learned so much about nature-based solutions.

—Victor, a youth leader from a Dunga wetland community-based organization

Beyond Restoration

There are numerous plans and policies in Kisumu that support nature-based solutions. Kisumu has implemented various environmental policies, including its Climate Change Action Plan, Environmental Policy, and Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, all of which detail the use of nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve urban livability. Accordingly, the Kisumu Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plan outlines the 2030 vision for sustainable urban development in Kisumu, highlighting green infrastructure, greening, and sustainable drainage systems to manage stormwater and reduce urban heat islands. Similarly, the Kisumu Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan includes green corridors for sustainable mobility. 

Beyond the pilot project, Kisumu has also launched various initiatives that integrate ecosystem-based adaptation into urban planning, focusing on the use of natural infrastructure to enhance resilience. A water resources management program for Lake Victoria aims to protect and restore water catchment areas in the Lake Victoria Basin, incorporating nature-based solutions such as riparian buffer zones and wetland restoration. The Dunga Wetland Conservation Initiative focuses on the conservation and restoration of the Dunga wetland for biodiversity and flood control, while supporting community development through eco-tourism and sustainable fishing. Similarly, constructed wetlands are used for wastewater treatment to improve water quality and reduce pollution in Lake Victoria. Urban projects include tree planting along streets or in public spaces, and the construction of parks or green belts, to enhance urban aesthetics, improve air quality, and provide spaces for recreation.

Several of these projects involve the private sector, and communities are typically involved in project design and implementation. To support this, Kisumu strategies and plans generally include provisions on community participation, including efforts to increase gender diversity within relevant initiatives.  

Further resources