Nairobi County announces fresh crackdown to regularize unauthorised buildings

The Nairobi City County Government has launched a fresh crackdown to bring thousands of unauthorized developments into compliance with planning laws.

In a public notice issued by the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, City Hall invited developers, property owners, land-buying companies, and investors with unapproved projects to apply for regularization. The exercise is anchored in the Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act, 2025.

Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, Patrick Analo, says the initiative seeks to grant approvals to buildings and structures erected without permits but which meet minimum planning and safety standards.

“To ensure transparency, the county government will publish notices of unauthorized developments in at least two national newspapers. The regularization covers subdivisions, change of use, extensions, architectural plans, structural works, billboards, LEDs, wall wraps, and informal settlements on private land,” Analo said.

He added that the County is also keen on resolving longstanding land ownership and planning disputes that have complicated development in various neighborhoods.

Unapproved projects that fail to comply will face enforcement under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019. Areas affected include Ruai, Kasarani, Mwiki, Roysambu, and several parts of Embakasi, where disputes have involved land-buying companies, squatters, and government allocations.

“Some of these matters went to court and rulings were made. We are now giving property owners a chance to regularize before enforcement begins,” Analo explained.

Analo cited the Kirima land case involving the family of the late businessman Gerishon Kirima and thousands of settlers as an example of the legal disputes City Hall is determined to resolve.

All applications for regularization must be filed through registered professionals including physical planners, architects, structural engineers, and environmental experts via the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS).