Nairobi Planning Committee Turns Heat on Officials Over Illegal Buildings
The Nairobi City County Assembly Planning Committee has intensified its probe into illegal construction and planning irregularities in the city, with members accusing county officials of failing to stop rogue developments and, in some cases, allegedly facilitating them.
Committee Chairperson Geoffrey Majiwa said the county’s planning department has numerous loopholes that are being exploited by unscrupulous developers, while some officers are failing to perform their duties despite having the necessary expertise.
“I can tell you this is the department with the most learned and wealthiest officers. With so many assistant directors, you are still telling us about imprests and lack of equipment. We are simply pointing out what is wrong with these officers,” Majiwa told county officials.
Majiwa went further to accuse some planners of colluding with developers to circumvent construction regulations.
“You find a planner at a construction site taking bribes and advising the architect on what to tell inspectors. Director Achar should not be telling us about cartels without addressing officers within the Executive who are colluding to facilitate illegal buildings,” he said.
The allegations came as the committee questioned county officials over the persistent construction of buildings that allegedly fail to comply with approved plans and safety requirements.
But the committee maintained that resource constraints cannot fully explain the continued planning violations, particularly where county officers are alleged to be involved in facilitating illegal developments.
Members also demanded an explanation of the approval procedures followed by the Urban Planning Technical Committee, seeking clarity on how developments are assessed and approved before construction begins.
The committee’s investigation is focusing on several areas of Nairobi, including UN Crescent, South C, Kilimani and Lang’ata, among other parts of the city.
The probe is expected to examine both the county’s enforcement capacity and the conduct of officials involved in planning and development control, amid growing concerns over how illegal developments are being approved and allowed to proceed.
