Living Rivers
Regenerative river planning for Nakuru
B.J.J. de Jong (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
N. Tillie – Mentor (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)
Kristel Aalbers – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
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Abstract
The Njoro River, the primary tributary of Lake Nakuru in Kenya’s Rift Valley, is facing severe ecological degradation due to deforestation, agricultural intensification, and rapid urban expansion. This thesis explores how regenerative landscape design can be used to restore the ecological integrity of the river while supporting the livelihoods of communities within its catchment. Building on the methodology of Research Through Design (RTD), this work integrates hydrological analysis, socio-spatial mapping, and co-design workshops conducted in collaboration with local actors. The study develops a spatial framework based on nature-based solutions that can be implemented through decentralized, community-led action. Rather than proposing a singular fixed intervention, the thesis offers a contextual strategy that acknowledges the complexity of socio-ecological systems and the limitations of top-down planning models. The outcome is a layered, adaptable vision that aims to rebalance ecological and human needs in the Njoro watershed.