Nelson Marwa has been appointed to lead the Nairobi Rivers Commission, replacing Bishop Margaret Wanjiru after President William Ruto revoked her appointment.
The change was announced in Gazette Notice No. 16248, dated 16 October 2026. Marwa’s three-year term took effect on the same day.
The commission is tasked with coordinating efforts to restore the Nairobi River Basin, an environmental system spanning several counties. Its work includes tackling pollution and supporting the rehabilitation of degraded waterways.
Wanjiru’s Appointment Revoked
Wanjiru, a city politician and founder of Jesus Is Alive Ministries, was appointed commission chair in late 2024. The agency was also restructured around that period and placed under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
Her tenure was intended to support joint efforts to restore the river basin and improve environmental conditions in Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
In August 2026, Wanjiru reportedly submitted a 30-day resignation notice to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. She indicated that she planned to leave the role by 31 August to focus on other commitments.
The latest Gazette notice formally revoked her appointment. It did not provide further details on the reasons for the change.
Marwa Takes on River Restoration
Marwa, a former Devolution Principal Secretary and Coast regional commissioner, now takes charge of the commission’s work.
The task includes coordinating pollution control and restoration across the Nairobi River Basin, which extends into Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni counties.
The scale of the work will require cooperation among national and county governments, alongside agencies responsible for water, sanitation and environmental protection.
Further Changes at the Commission
Marwa’s appointment follows another change in the commission’s membership. The report says former United Democratic Alliance candidate Samuel Muchina was appointed to the body after the term of Amos Chege Mugo was revoked.
The latest reshuffle places Marwa at the centre of the commission’s leadership as efforts to rehabilitate Nairobi’s rivers continue. The Gazette notice confirms the appointment and revocation, but does not outline new targets or a revised timetable for the restoration programme.
