e Nairobi River Basin Rehabilitation and Affordable Housing Project, spearheaded by Energy China, was launched on Monday in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Kenyan President William Ruto led Monday's groundbreaking ceremony, joined by senior government officials, Energy China executives, and environmental advocates, who expressed hopes for strengthened Kenya-China cooperation and the ecological restoration of the Nairobi River, which meanders through the heart of Nairobi. The project is the country's first major ecological and wellbeing project, which will create new jobs for young people, improve public health, and enhance the capital's environmental sustainability, said Ruto during the ceremony. The Nairobi River originates from the northwestern outskirts of the Kenyan capital, flowing through southeastern residential areas, but has long suffered from severe pollution and flooding during the rainy season. In February, the Kenyan government signed a contract with China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute to implement the project's first phase, which aims to address sewage treatment, river dredging, urban landscape construction, as well as an affordable housing project to resettle residents in flood-vulnerable areas. "According to the plan, the river course project will be finished by April 2027, which will shield local residents from floods, and present them with an ecology park, and well-designed views and community centers," said Yang Ming, deputy chief engineer of the Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute. SHOTLIST: Nairobi, Kenya - March 10, 2025 1. Various of construction site, traffic; 2. William Ruto, Kenyan President, other Kenyan officials, listening to introductions of Nairobi River project; 3. Posters introducing project plans in Nairobi River basin; 4. Ruto, other officials, talking; 5. Ruto announcing start of project at groundbreaking ceremony; 6. Various of Ruto operating excavator; 7. Various of Ruto delivering speech at groundbreaking ceremony, crowds cheering; 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yang Ming, deputy chief engineer, Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute, China Energy Engineering Group (ending with shot 9): "According to the plan, the river course project will be finished by April 2027, which will shield local residents from floods, and present them an ecology park, and well-designed views and community centers."; 9. Various of posters introducing project. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]