With only 13 days left before the Nairobi City County Government’s 14-day
ultimatum on repainting and cleaning buildings expires, property owners across
the capital are racing against time to comply or risk stiff penalties.
The order, issued last Friday by Acting County
Secretary Godfrey Akumali, directed that all buildings within the Central
Business District (CBD), Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road, and
other designated shopping centers be repainted and sanitized to meet public
health and housing standards.
Anchored on the Public Health Act (Cap 242) and
the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), the directive warns that failure
to comply amounts to a breach of the law and will trigger statutory closure and
prosecutions.
“This notice takes effect immediately and shall
remain valid for fourteen (14) days only. Failure, neglect, or refusal to
comply with this directive will lead to closure orders and prosecutions under
Sections 115, 118, and 126 of the Public Health Act,” read the notice.
Already, some signs of compliance are visible.
Along Moi Avenue, the Tuskys Imara building is undergoing repainting, a move
City Hall officials say reflects growing awareness and cooperation among
property owners.
“This is not just about aesthetics; it’s about
hygiene, pride, and restoring Nairobi’s image as a clean, modern African
capital,” the county’s Health and Nutrition Department emphasized.
To ease the burden, the county government has
waived all repainting permit fees for the duration of the notice. The move,
officials explained, is meant to encourage faster compliance and remove cost
barriers for property owners and tenants.
Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration has
in recent months intensified its enforcement agenda, targeting waste
management, licensing, and public order.
Speaking at a past forum, Sakaja stressed that Nairobi cannot be allowed to
fall into decay.
“We cannot allow Nairobi to fall into decay. Every stakeholder must play
their part in keeping the city clean, safe, and livable,” he said.
The initiative has, however, drawn mixed
reactions from city residents and business owners.
Some have welcomed it as a long-overdue step to restore the capital’s fading
image, while others have voiced concerns about the short compliance window and
the financial costs involved.
Small-scale traders, in particular, say repainting large buildings may be
difficult to achieve within the limited time.
Despite these concerns, City Hall has made it
clear that no extensions will be granted.
Inspections are set to begin immediately after the deadline, and
non-compliant buildings will face closure notices and possible prosecution.
The ultimatum underscores Sakaja’s broader
vision to modernize Nairobi and transform it into an orderly, investor-friendly
city.
Its success, however, will largely depend on how quickly property owners
heed the call and whether enforcement will be uniformly applied across all
affected areas.
