The state has demarcated the land around the multi-billion industrial park in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha as a special planning zone.
Any development on the land around a 10km radius will now have to be approved by the national and county governments to control the rise of informal settlements.
The Nakuru government has already banned the transfer or subdivision of land around the industrial park to pave way for a master plan.
The move comes days after the government ordered the demolition of all illegal structures near the recently opened Inland Container Depot which is also part of the park.
Naivasha deputy county commissioner Mathioya Mbogo said the new directive was meant to stem the mushrooming of unplanned structures around the special economic zone.
Speaking after visiting the industrial park, Mbogo who was accompanied by senior government officers termed the region as very critical in the state's plans.
“All the land around the industrial park has been declared as a special planning zone and any upcoming structure will have to be in line with governments design,” he said.
He said informal settlements have in the past come up near industrial parks, a move that hampered planning.
“We have learnt from our past mistakes and we shall not allow any shanties near this special economic zone that has already attracted neighbouring countries and international investors. The process of supplying water to the industrial park is on while surveyors are working round the clock for a master plan,” he said.
Nakuru Lands executive Francis Mwangi said that they had issued a 90-day-notice stopping any transfer or subdivision of land around the industrial park.
Mwangi noted that the purpose of the notice was to provide a development framework for the urban centres and formalise security of tenure for the tenants.
“The county government has commissioned a cadastral survey in identified areas and interested individuals can give their input to the department in writing,” he said.
The CEC noted that during the period, there would be no transfer of land, registration of new allotment letters and processing of development applications.
“The move will enable the planning of and survey of teams to prepare and compile a comprehensive inventory and a base map for respective centres,” he said.
