Owners, tenants and property management agents of buildings within Nairobi City have been directed to ensure the buildings are repainted and street lights are working.
In a notice on Tuesday, City Hall’s Urban, development and planning officer Patrick Akivaga said the directive affects four major areas in the city.
These include the CBD area; buildings in the area bound by Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie Avenue, University Way and Kirinyaga Road.
The others are buildings within entire Westlands Shopping Centre area, buildings within the Upper Hill district and buildings around Ngara.
Akivaga warned that those who will not adhere to the directives in the stipulated time frame risk legal action.
“This notice/order takes effect immediately and shall lapse after 90 days, after which the county government of Nairobi shall commence to undertake necessary legal enforcement against those who will not have repainted their buildings and provided security lighting for their premises,” Akivaga said.
The notice comes a day after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced new measures aimed at restoring order and enhancing the city’s appearance, including the repainting of buildings.
Speaking at the Church of Christ Africa in Buruburu on Sunday, Sakaja lamented over the neglected state of some buildings with faded paint, stating that a fresh coat of paint would significantly improve the city’s aesthetics.
“As part of our commitment to cleaning and upgrading the city, landlords within the CBD will be required to repaint their buildings and install security lighting,” he said.
“A notice will be issued this week, giving them 90 days to comply.”
The governor added, “This proposal is a step in the right direction. It would improve the city’s overall image while attracting more visitors.”
The governor emphasized the city’s determination to enforce compliance with regulations, including an ongoing crackdown on illegal advertisements along corridors and walkways.
“These hanging ads violate city bylaws and must be removed. Putting them back is equally illegal, and we will not relent in this effort,” he stated.
Sakaja also highlighted the continued push to restore order in the city by removing hawkers from main corridors and walkways.
"Cleanliness and order are non-negotiable. Those who defy city regulations will face the law,” he warned.
The facelift extends to infrastructure upgrades, with several roads in the CBD and estates like Kilimani and Kileleshwa already undergoing recarpeting.
“Significant progress is being made, and residents will soon notice the difference. More roads will be recarpeted in the coming months,” Sakaja assured.
