River Nyakomisaro, which flows prominently through Kisii Town in Kisii County, has
long served as an ecological corridor and cultural landmark in the region. Historically,
the river supported domestic water needs, agricultural irrigation, and ecological balance
by serving as a habitat for aquatic biodiversity. For local communities, it has also held
significant cultural meaning, often used in rituals, social gathering sites, and community
storytelling. The river also adds aesthetic value to the urban environment and has the
potential for urban greening and recreational use.
In recent decades, however, the river has become increasingly polluted due to
unregulated urban growth, inadequate solid waste management infrastructure, and failure
in enforcement of environmental regulations. Key drivers of degradation include the
illegal dumping of garbage, especially at night by custodians following instructions from
property owners; raw sewage from leaking sewer lines flowing directly into the river;
motorcycle washing activities discharging oil and dirt; and the general apathy of the
population towards the river's conservation. EHF’s 2023 observational study reported that
approximately 75% of the waste found in the river originates from urban households and
businesses within Kisii Town.
Children have been seen swimming in the river despite the visible filth and local residents
often collect water for cleaning or washing not knowing it is contaminated with harmful
bacteria like E. coli. Motorbike riders use the river to wash their vehicles, contributing to
the oil and hydrocarbon contamination of the water. Informal waste dumps along the
banks frequently collapse during rains, leading to surges of plastic and organic waste into
the river’s flow.
The deteriorating health of River Nyakomisaro has far-reaching implications for human
health, biodiversity, economic development, and climate resilience. There is a direct
correlation between the pollution of the river and increased cases of waterborne diseases
such as cholera, typhoid, and gastrointestinal infections in Kisii Town. The local health
centers have repeatedly reported spikes in disease outbreaks after heavy rainfall events
which wash accumulated waste into residential areas.
It is in this context that EHF seeks to host the River Nyakomisaro Half Marathon as a
flagship public engagement campaign. The objective is to utilize sport and mass
mobilization to shine a spotlight on the river’s plight while galvanizing support for a
structured, multi-stakeholder clean-up and conservation effort. The marathon will provide
a participatory platform for civic education, partnership building, and grassroots
empowerment