Motion filed seeking probe into irregular land allocation in Nairobi County
The Assembly is expected to consider the proposal in its upcoming sessions, as the debate over the fate of Nairobi’s remaining public spaces gains renewed urgency.
A plan now before the Nairobi County Assembly could open a new chapter in the fight against land grabbing, with local leaders pushing for decisive steps to reclaim spaces that were originally set aside for public use.
The proposal warns that many estates have lost land meant for important community facilities, and calls for a full investigation into how these spaces were given away or taken over.
More To Read
- Nairobi County proposes new rules to strengthen school feeding programme oversight
- MPs raise alarm over alleged misappropriation of College of Insurance land
- Parliament probes illegal subdivision of Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Institute land
- NLC commissioners conclude term with over 31,000 requests for land regularisation processed
- Governor Sakaja moves Geoffrey Mosiria from Environment to Customer Service docket
- Samburu community to regain control of ancestral land after 35-year dispute
The motion was introduced by Lindi MCA Ochieng’ Jera from Kibra, who wants City Hall to map out every parcel of public land and open space across the county.
He argues that areas meant for schools, hospitals, markets, playgrounds and other public amenities have been taken up by private developments without proper authority, leaving residents without vital services.
While presenting the motion, Jera noted that the Constitution gives the National Land Commission (NLC) the mandate to hold public land in trust and to look into any form of land injustice.
Article 67 assigns the commission the role of managing public land for both levels of government and empowers it to investigate how such land has been used over the years and advise on possible solutions.
Even with these protections, Jera said Nairobi continues to suffer from unchecked grabbing, irregular occupation and unauthorised structures on land that was meant for community benefit.
He raised concerns that such actions have made it harder for the county to deliver essential services, as many developments cannot proceed because the land allocated for them has already been taken.
The MCA explained that the loss of public amenities has weakened service delivery in key sectors, including health, education and sanitation.
He warned that most affected areas are densely populated neighbourhoods where residents already struggle with limited access to these services.
According to the MCA, the spread of irregular developments has distorted the physical layout of many estates and created service gaps that the county continues to battle.
The problem, he added, has delayed county plans to build new schools, expand existing hospitals, set up recreational grounds and improve sanitation facilities.
Many of these projects cannot move forward because the land set aside for them has either been allocated irregularly or developed by private individuals.
The motion calls for joint investigations by the county executive and the NLC.
“…this assembly urges the county executive in conjunction with National Land Commission to conduct a comprehensive audit and investigation on all public land and open spaces in Nairobi City County that have been irregularly allocated, occupied, or developed in the county; and publicly share the outcomes of the investigations and table a comprehensive report with recommendations to the relevant national and county government institutions including the county assembly for further action,” it reads.
It also seeks action to recover any parcels found to have been misused, whether the irregularity came from the commission, county offices or court processes.
The aim is to return the land to its intended purpose and restore essential public amenities for residents.
The Assembly is expected to consider the proposal in its upcoming sessions, as the debate over the fate of Nairobi’s remaining public spaces gains renewed urgency.
Top Stories Today
