The Nairobi County Assembly Planning Committee has directed
the Nairobi City County Government to halt a regeneration project on private
land in Kangemi.
The order follows a petition by affected residents, who demanded answers on why their land was being earmarked for regeneration.
Minority Leader and Planning Committee member Antony Kiragu said noted that the residents have expressed concern over possible displacement from their ancestral land.
“We have instructed the CEC for Planning, Mr. Mbogo, to stop
all planning activities in the areas that have been marked until the matter is
heard through lawful public participation and with input from affected
residents," Kiragu said.
In response, the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Patrick Mbogo, distanced the County Government from the ongoing beacon marking.
“Chairman, this project is being handled by a multi-agency team. It would be appropriate to summon all involved agencies to respond to the concerns raised,” he said.
The Planning Committee is expected to schedule further hearings and will also summon the Nairobi Rivers Commission and other stakeholders to provide clarity on the project’s scope and legality.
Kiragu said some of the affected families have lived in the areas marked for regeneration for generations.
“They grew up swimming in the Nairobi River. We are asking the government to listen to the people,” he stated.
The residents have also insisted that they are not occupying riparian land and that their land ownership is legally documented.
“We are environmentally conscious, and we love our environment. But forcing us out of our private property is a violation of our rights under Article 40 of the Constitution,” said Ambassador Marx Kahende during the Committee hearing.
“We should not be discriminated against in the application of the law.”
Nairobi regeneration is an initiative to revitalise the Nairobi River and its surrounding environment, transforming the urban area into a healthier, greener, and more livable city for residents.
This comprehensive project involves environmental restoration, infrastructure development, job creation, and the construction of affordable housing, with the goal of improving public health, enhancing biodiversity, and reclaiming the river as a shared public space.
Launched as a collaboration between national and county governments, the initiative seeks to address decades of urban neglect, improve living conditions in informal settlements, and boost the city's economic competitiveness.
One of the key components of the initiative is urban renewal and affordable housing, which involves upgrading densely populated informal areas such as Kibera, Mathare, and Kangemi.
This includes plans to demolish dilapidated structures and replace them with modern housing, improve roads and drainage, and enhance access to clean water, sanitation, and social amenities.
