ISK BACKS RIPARIAN PROTECTION BUT WARNS AGAINST UNLAWFUL DEMOLITIONS WITHOUT COMPENSATION IN NAIROBI.
BY NJOKI KARANJA. In a statement released in Nairobi today,the surveyors’ body said initiatives under the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Project are critical for restoring ecosystems, controlling floods, and promoting sustainable environmental management. However, ISK cautioned that inconsistencies in the definition, measurement, and enforcement of riparian reserves have fueled disputes, encroachment, and public backlash, particularly following recent demolition of structures along river corridors. Referencing remarks by Johnson Sakaja, ISK rejected the blanket classification of riparian reserves as public land, noting that some parcels adjoining water bodies are privately owned and were lawfully acquired under previous legal frameworks. The institution emphasized that property rights protected under the Constitution must be upheld, warning that retroactive application of new riparian boundaries without due process amounts to compulsory acquisition and requires prom...