The Nairobi City County Government has launched a fresh crackdown targeting thousands of unapproved buildings and land developments across the capital, warning property owners to either comply with planning laws or face enforcement.

In a public notice, the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning announced that all developers, land-buying companies, and investors with unauthorized projects must apply for regularization under the new Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act, 2025.

Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, Patrick Analo, explained that the program is designed to bring order to the city’s chaotic real estate sector by approving only those structures that meet minimum safety and planning standards.

“To ensure transparency, the county government will publish notices of unauthorized developments in at least two national newspapers.

“The regularization covers subdivisions, change of use, extensions, architectural plans, structural works, billboards, LEDs, wall wraps, and informal settlements on private land,” said Analo.

For ordinary Nairobi residents, this move could have far-reaching effects. Property owners with unapproved houses or land subdivisions in areas like Ruai, Kasarani, Mwiki, Roysambu, and Embakasi now have a lifeline to secure legal approvals.

Tenants risk displacement if landlords fail to comply and enforcement kicks in, as non-regularized buildings may be demolished.

Furthermore, investors and land-buying companies entangled in long-running disputes now have a pathway to resolve ownership disputes that have prevented families and buyers from accessing their property.

The county is also targeting notorious land disputes that have been ongoing for years in the courts. Analo pointed to the high-profile Kirima land case, where the late businessman Gerishon Kirima’s estate has been contested by thousands of settlers, as one example that City Hall is determined to settle.

“Some of these matters went to court, and rulings were made. We are now giving property owners a chance to regularize before enforcement begins,” Analo added.

Applications must be filed through registered professionals—including physical planners, architects, structural engineers, and environmental experts—via the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS).

Only projects that meet safety and planning requirements will be approved; those that don’t will face action under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019.

For Nairobi residents, this is a make-or-break moment. While the crackdown could finally bring order to a city plagued by rogue developments and endless land wrangles, it also puts thousands of homes and businesses on the line.