Addis Ababa Opens Kechene, Bambis Section of Riverside Development Project
A new section of Addis Ababa's riverside redevelopment programme has opened to the public after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, state-affiliated broadcaster Fana reported.
The section follows a corridor linking the Kechene, Ambassador, Gion, Irreecha and Bambis areas. According to Fana, it is part of the larger Entoto–Peacock riverside development, one of several projects the city administration is carrying out to rehabilitate waterways that run through the capital.
Mayor outlines goals
In a message posted on her social media accounts after the opening, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe said the city administration intends to make the capital a place that offers its residents a better life, Fana reported.
She described the riverside work as a major undertaking that would improve the city's appearance, raise residents' living standards, strengthen Addis Ababa's appeal to tourists and stimulate economic activity.
The mayor said the project is intended to reclaim riverbanks affected by pollution, environmental degradation and hazards such as flooding. In their place, she said, the city is creating spaces for:
- green areas and landscaping
- recreation and leisure
- sports
- commercial use
- community gatherings
According to Fana, Adanech said the initiative goes beyond restoring the rivers' natural character. The broader aim, she said, is not simply to build attractive sites but to give residents a healthier environment, more recreational options and new economic opportunities.
Call for public upkeep
The mayor also urged residents to help maintain the newly opened areas. She asked the public to keep the space clean and to use the infrastructure along the riverbanks properly, describing the corridor as a shared public asset whose care is a collective responsibility.
Part of a wider programme
The riverside projects are among a series of large-scale urban works undertaken in Addis Ababa in recent years by the federal government and the city administration, alongside road corridor upgrades, public parks and other redevelopment schemes. Officials have presented the work as a way to modernise the capital, reduce environmental risks along its waterways and attract tourism.
Redevelopment in the capital has also drawn scrutiny over the relocation of residents and businesses from areas cleared for construction, a concern raised by residents and rights advocates in connection with several projects in the city. Fana's report on the Kechene–Bambis section did not address relocation or the cost of the work.
The report also did not give the length of the newly opened section, its budget or a timeline for completing the remaining parts of the Entoto–Peacock development.
Addis Gazette will continue to follow the riverside programme and its impact on communities living along the affected waterways.
Source: Fana – Amharic (state-affiliated)
Picture: Fana – Amharic (state-affiliated)
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