NAIROBI, Kenya — The Nairobi County Government is set to launch a major operation starting Monday to enforce compliance among property owners who have failed to repaint their buildings following a recently expired ultimatum.
The crackdown, which aims to penalize non-compliant property owners, is part of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s broader initiative to enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal.
Enforcement begins after deadline lapse
The County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Health, Suzanne Silantoi, confirmed that the operation will commence immediately, targeting buildings that ignored the 14-day notice that expired last week.
She emphasized the administration’s commitment to improving the capital’s cleanliness and visual standards.
“Restoring Nairobi’s image as a clean, modern African capital is paramount. This is the capital city and we must reflect that in how our buildings look,” Ms Silantoi said.
Ms. Silantoi noted that while many owners had responded positively to the directive, a significant number of properties remain non-compliant, some having gone unpainted since they were first constructed decades ago.
“We issued a 14-day ultimatum, and while many have responded positively, a number are still lagging behind,” Ms Silantoi said.
Starting Monday, inspectorate officers will be deployed across major commercial zones to check compliance. The operation will cover property owners, tenants, and management agents in areas including the Central Business District (CBD), Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara area, Kirinyaga Road, and downtown areas, along with other major city shopping centers.
Non-compliant property owners face serious repercussions: “Non-compliant buildings risk penalties such as statutory closure or prosecution.”
To encourage compliance and ease the financial burden, the county had previously waived the repainting permit fees, citing the current tough economic environment.
Renewed commitment to city dignity
This enforcement action comes amid renewed efforts by both the National and County governments to restore the city’s order and dignity. Nairobi is vital to Kenya’s identity, hosting international bodies such as the United Nations Habitat.
President William Ruto and Governor Sakaja are scheduled to sign a major national-private agreement deal this month.
Also Read: Nairobi issues 60-day ultimatum: Develop or lose your plot, County warns
This collaboration aims to improve services and the city’s image across multiple sectors, addressing pressing issues that exceed the county government’s singular capacity.
Governor Sakaja highlighted the necessity of public-private partnerships for crucial city projects:
“Partnering with the private sector for the purpose of development is very encouraged. For example, after cleaning the city and collecting garbage taken to Dandora, we are partnering with a Chinese company to produce 45 megawatts of power. We already have an agreement with the government through the Ministry of Energy on a power sale arrangement,” Governor Sakaja said.
