Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja made a significant announcement on Wednesday, April 24, declaring a ban on all pending building development approvals in the county. This decision comes in response to the ongoing heavy rainfall in the capital, posing a serious risk to vital infrastructure. “We have suspended all pending building development approvals until a thorough review of ongoing projects across the city is conducted,” stated Sakaja. Additionally, he announced an immediate prohibition on all excavation activities within Nairobi County.
The governor’s decision follows mounting pressure from activists urging the cessation of approvals for buildings in the city that fail to comply with urban planning regulations. Earlier, despite criticism, Sakaja had affirmed the county’s intention to continue granting permits for the construction of skyscrapers, including those reaching up to 75 stories, in affluent areas like Kilimani, Kileleshwa, and Lavington.
However, the relentless rain rendered many of these upscale neighborhoods uninhabitable. Kilimani, in particular, faced severe challenges, leading residents of the upscale Elite Court along Ole Dume Road to evacuate their homes. The construction of flats on riparian lands was identified as a contributing factor to the flooding in Kilimani and other parts of the city.
Addressing this issue, Sakaja emphasized that moving forward, no building would receive approval for construction on riparian land.
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