Sakaja Issues 3-Month Ultimatum To Nairobi CBD Landlords

All owners and landlords of buildings within Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) will have to paint their premises afresh within the next 90 days, as directed by Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Speaking during a Sunday, January 19 service at Christ in Africa Church, attended by Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), Sakaja announced new measures aimed at restoring order and enhancing the city’s appearance.

This directive is in line with an ambitious plan to transform Nairobi’s Central Business District, focusing on infrastructure upgrades, improved aesthetics, and stricter enforcement of city regulations.

Planning to effect the directive on Monday, the county boss also instructed the landlords to see to it that security lights are installed within the 90 days.

“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. A notice will be issued this week, giving them 90 days to comply,” he stated.

Aerial view of buildings in Nairobi CBD. /TRIP ADVISOR

"As you embark on the painting of buildings we will also be working as the county government to repair roads. We have received the financial support and I would personally like to thank the President."

Sakaja's announcement came after Nairobi City County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson Maurice Ochieng called on the county government to ensure all buildings are repainted. Ochieng noted that most buildings within the CBD were dilapidated on the outside, posing a health hazard to residents in the city.

The dirty and unpresentable state of most buildings in the CBD is also in violation of section 118b of Public Health Act Cap 242, according to Ochieng.

“The law on public nuisances under Section 118b of Public Health Act Cap 242 is clear and compliance is therefore irreversible. We want to caution the building owners against ignoring these provisions on public health," he said.

Meanwhile, Sakaja's county government has been keen on a mass clean-up and rehabilitation of Nairobi, particularly the Central Business District.

The governor also 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.

Recently, Sakaja's administration, issued a stern directive to business owners, emphasizing the need to maintain clean surroundings and comply with waste management standards.

The county through County Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria warned that impromptu inspections would be conducted by environmental officers to assess adherence. Non-compliant businesses, Mosiria revealed, will face legal consequences, including prosecution under existing laws.

“Business owners in Nairobi must install and regularly service waste bins on their premises. They must ensure their workplaces and surrounding areas are clean. Proper waste collection and disposal must be done through authorized providers,” Mosiria directed.

The directive is part of the county’s “Green Nairobi” initiative, which aims to promote sustainable environmental practices.

The notice also called for collective action, urging all stakeholders, including businesses and landlords, to cooperate in ensuring a cleaner and healthier city.