The image depicts a severely polluted urban waterway, identified as a section of the Nairobi River within the Mathare Valley informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya

The image depicts a severely polluted urban waterway, identified as a section of the Nairobi River within the Mathare Valley informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya. The scene is dominated by a dark, turbid river flowing from left to right, densely choked with floating refuse, including plastic bags, fabric scraps, and organic debris. Both banks of the river are steep and comprised of massive, accumulated mounds of mixed waste, primarily organic matter such as dried leaves and decaying vegetation, interspersed with plastic bags and other non-organic refuse. On the elevated right bank, approximately a dozen individuals are visible. Several are seated, surrounded by numerous large, packed sacks, predominantly green and brown, indicating an informal market or trading operation. Behind these individuals, a series of makeshift stalls constructed from various materials, including tarpaulins and corrugated sheets, line the bank. In the background, multi-story concrete buildings, some appearing residential and exhibiting signs of wear, frame the urban landscape under an overcast sky. On the left bank, more informal structures and additional piles of discarded materials, including what appears to be furniture, are present. Sparse, small green bushes grow along the immediate foreground and intermittently emerge from the polluted water. The overall environment is one of significant urban degradation and heavy waste accumulation.