GRACE KAMWERU
Kikuyu: Revamping rural-urban transitions The landscape in Kikuyu is defined by two plateaus separated by a soft valley system of forests, marshland, and rivers. The urban core is set on the eastern plateau whereas rural farmlands form a matrix on the western plateau.
The main water features are the Ondiri swamp and Kikuyu springs which are recharged by the Kikuyu aquifer. They are sources of major rivers that serve Nairobi City downstream.
Deforestation and degradation of the swamp and the riparian zones prior to uncontrolled urbanization are evident. The development of industries and greenhouses close to the swamp has escalated the water pollution and subsequent water scarcity in the region.
72