President William Ruto has appointed former Coast Regional Commissioner Nelson Marwa to chair the Nairobi Rivers Commission. In the same notice, he revoked the appointment of Bishop Margaret Wanjiru.

The change was made through Gazette Notice No. 16248, dated Friday, October 16, 2026. Marwa will serve a three-year term, with effect from the same day.

"I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Nelson Marwa to be the Chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 16th October, 2026. The appointment of Margaret Wanjiru is revoked," the notice reads, as published by Citizen Digital and People Daily.

The President acted under Article 131 of the Constitution and Section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act.

Revocation follows resignation

Although the notice uses the word "revoked", Wanjiru's exit had been coming for months. In August, she gave Head of Public Service Felix Koskei a 30-day resignation notice. She said she would leave the post by August 31 to focus on other engagements.

The televangelist and former Starehe MP, who leads Jesus Is Alive Ministries, had chaired the commission since October 2024.

She has since broken ranks with the ruling party. According to the Nation and People Daily, she left the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and has declared she will run for Nairobi governor in 2027 on a Kenya Moja ticket. The gazette notice therefore formalises a departure that politics had already settled.

Who is Marwa?

Marwa, whose full name the commission gave as Nelson Marwa Sospeter, is a long-serving provincial administrator. He became a household name as Mombasa County Commissioner and later Coast Regional Commissioner, where he was known for a tough, hands-on style.

He later served as Principal Secretary for Devolution. Nairobi News described him as having risen through the public service over more than two decades.

The commission welcomed the appointment on Saturday.

"The Nairobi Rivers Commission welcomes Mr Nelson Marwa Sospeter, EBS, following his appointment as Chairperson by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto for a three-year term, effective 16th October 2026," the commission said, People Daily reported.

Chief Executive Officer Brig (Rtd) Joseph Muracia pointed to Marwa's experience in public administration, government coordination and security management.

A tight deadline on the river

Marwa takes over the Nairobi Rivers Basin Regeneration Programme at a critical stage. The multi-agency project covers the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers and other waterways. It brings together national agencies, county governments and development partners.

Its goals include cleaner water, restored riverbanks, new sewer lines and the recovery of riparian land. The basin spans Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni counties.

The commission is aiming to complete ongoing rehabilitation works by January 2027, People Daily reported. Land disputes, court cases and the relocation of traders along the river corridor have slowed progress.

The rivers remain choked by untreated sewage, industrial effluent, dumped rubbish and buildings on the riverbanks. Demolitions along the riparian reserves have also been politically sensitive in informal settlements.

Marwa's appointment comes months after Ruto named Samuel Muchina, UDA's candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election, to the commission, revoking Amos Chege Mugo's term, Citizen Digital noted.

Photos: Nelson Marwa, The Star; polluted section of the Nairobi River, khyk54/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); President William Ruto signing documents, PCS via Citizen Digital.