Nairobi gives property owners 14 days to repaint, clean up their buildings
Authorities said the action is necessary to raise sanitation standards and ensure buildings comply with public health and housing requirements.
Nairobi County has set a strict 14-day deadline for property owners, tenants, and building managers to repaint and tidy up their buildings or face penalties, including possible closure and prosecution.
The directive, issued by Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali, covers all premises in the central business district, Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road, and other designated shopping areas.
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Authorities said the action is necessary to raise sanitation standards and ensure buildings comply with public health and housing requirements.
Akumali highlighted that the exercise is part of the county’s efforts to improve the city’s visual appeal while protecting residents’ health. “The orders are aimed at restoring the city’s aesthetic appeal while safeguarding public health,” he said.
To encourage swift compliance, Governor Johnson Sakaja has temporarily waived the usual repainting permit fees.
Kilimani Ward Representative Moses Ogeto noted that Nairobi’s appearance reflects the country’s image and affects how international visitors perceive it.
“Nairobi County is the entry point into the country by international guests; ... the aesthetic characteristics of the city give the first impression about its general organisation and national character,” part of the motion reads.
This initiative echoes a previous campaign by the now-defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services, which had urged property owners to repaint their buildings as part of a city beautification plan.
That effort, however, was not completed before the agency’s dissolution in 2022.
All attention is now on Sakaja’s administration to see if the latest push will succeed in giving the city a cleaner and more attractive look.
The deadline is in line with the Public Health Act, which mandates that local governments address public nuisances like deteriorating building facades. Landlords in the affected zones must comply with the repainting order or face legal action after the notice expires.
The notice serves as a reminder that urban renewal efforts are underway in Nairobi, with the city government also targeting hawker encroachments in the CBD as part of its ongoing cleaning campaign.
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