Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s recent order that property owners repaint their buildings is the third round of effort to beautify the county, a bid that failed with two former governors.
Sakaja ordered business owners and property agents to repaint installations near specific streets within 90 days, claiming they are currently an eyesore.
He said a fresh coat of paint will attract tourists and is in line with best practices of leading metropolises in the region and around the world.
The affected buildings are those in Westlands Shopping centre, the central business district, along Uhuru Highway, Haille Selassie Avenue Kirinyaga Road and University Way.
Buildings in Upper Hill and Ngara are also affected. The order is anchored on the Physical and Land planning Act no.13 of 2019, Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Act of 2019 and the Public Health Act of 2012.
“All owners, tenants, property management agents of buildings within the following areas are hereby directed to repaint their buildings with fresh coat of paint and install new or repair existing security lights,” the undated order signed by urban development and planning chief officer Patrick Analo says.
The notice was released on January 21. Order takes effect immediately and shall elapse in 90 days, it says.
When the period elapses, it reads, “Nairobi county shall commence to undertake necessary legal enforcement against those who will have not repainted their building and provided security lighting for their premises.”
Former Governor Evans Kidero was the first to attempt beautification, a project that turned controversial.
Kidero spent millions on flower beds and grass and also hired a band of 50 men he described as green army to guard the project.
The 50 youths were empowered to arrest anyone found to be stepping on the grass and the flower beds, with offenders fined Sh2,000.
When Mike Sonko took over, he also rolled out his own beautification drive, at some point, he claimed he funded it with his own money.
It also turned scandalous. However, a later audit showed Sonko allocated up to Sh18.75 million in the 2017-18 financial year for the city beautification project.
Only Sh661,500 was used on the project, with a good amount going towards payment for subsistence allowances for trips and retreats outside the programme.
Sonko’s drive is remembered when he put up lion sculptures at major city roundabouts and erecting billboards with images of top government officials.
In his fresh attempt, Sakaja has said owners of the properties will foot the costs. The governor made the orders during a church service at the Church of Christ Africa in Buruburu over the weekend.
He said he is concerned with the neglected state of buildings with faded paint, saying the new order will revamp the city’s skylines.
“As we continue to clean the city and remove all illegal hanging advertisements and signage, we must remember Nairobi is a commercial hub. We should make sure it is clean and green. All buildings should be repainted,” Sakaja said.
The painting
will not be done in isolation.
