Kileleshwa residents demand orderly urban development

The Kileleshwa Ward Neighbourhood Association members during a media briefing /HANDOUT

 The Kileleshwa Ward Neighbourhood Association (KIWANA) has reaffirmed its commitment to lawful civic engagement as it seeks to influence urban planning and protect residents’ rights amid rapid development in the area.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the association said it was engaging county authorities, pursuing legal interventions and using community survey data to advocate for what it termed “orderly, lawful, and sustainable development” in Kileleshwa Ward.

“As an association founded on the principles of constitutional democracy and public participation, KIWANA is actively steering the neighborhood toward orderly, lawful, and sustainable development while firmly protecting the rights and well-being of its residents,” the statement said.

The association says it is committed to “constructive civic engagement through constitutional and lawful means.”

KIWANA said it continues to rely on key legal precedents that are shaping urban planning in Nairobi, including a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on September 19, 2025, in Civil Appeal No E160 of 2025 involving Claire Kubochi Anami and others against the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Nairobi City County, and others.

According to the association, the court ordered Nairobi City County to gazette a Nairobi City Development Control Policy and Local Physical Development Plans as required under Section 46 of the Physical Land Use Planning Act.

It added that the court directed the county to submit an interim report within three months and a final report within six months under a structural interdict to supervise compliance.

KIWANA also said the ruling granted residents’ associations a formal right of audience, requiring county progress reports to be shared with them for comments and objections.

“The court granted residents’ associations a formal right of audience, mandating that county progress reports be served to them to allow for comments and objections,” the association said.

The group further stressed the importance of adhering to zoning regulations in ongoing developments in Nairobi, saying the interim planning framework currently in use must be respected.

The association said its efforts are aimed at ensuring urban growth in Kileleshwa is guided by legal frameworks, scientific data and meaningful public participation.