The Nairobi City County Cabinet has approved the Regularization of Unauthorised Developments Regulations, 2025, setting the stage for a transparent, fair, and people-centred process to bring informal buildings into compliance with planning and safety laws.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Governor Johnson Sakaja, considered and endorsed the formulation of the regulations for publication and transmission to the Nairobi City County Assembly, pursuant to the Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorised Developments Act, 2025.
According to an official Cabinet dispatch, “The Regulations operationalise the Act by setting out the end-to-end process for applications, technical standards, professional accountability, public participation, dispute resolution, and enforcement.”
The dispatch further explained the significance of the framework, noting:
“Nairobi’s growth has too often been informal, leaving families, small businesses, and entire neighbourhoods exposed to risk, unsafe structures, poor access, and constant fear of evictions. This framework replaces anxiety with a fair, rules-based pathway into the formal planning system, prioritising structural safety, public health, environmental stewardship, and community voice, while protecting livelihoods.”
The move comes just two days after Governor Sakaja urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing grace period to comply before enforcement begins.
“If you know you have an unapproved building, this is your last opportunity to comply. Once the grace period is over, enforcement will follow. It’s not about revenue — it’s about order, safety, and accountability,” Governor Sakaja said during a briefing earlier this week.
He added that the initiative aims to “replace fear and uncertainty with order, safety, and dignity,” particularly for residents and small businesses that have long operated in informal developments.
“Every Nairobi resident deserves a safe home, a stable business, and a county that treats them with dignity,” Sakaja emphasized.
The newly approved regulations introduce a structured process through which residents and developers can legalize previously unapproved buildings.
The framework focuses on compliance with safety, public health, and environmental standards, ensuring that no regularized structure compromises the well-being of Nairobians.
It also provides for public participation and accessible dispute-resolution mechanisms, reinforcing transparency and accountability.
Built-environment professionals will be held responsible for the integrity of all submissions and remedial works undertaken during the process.
Additionally, the framework integrates informal areas into formal urban planning, ensuring that all wards in Nairobi enjoy equal rights, safety, and access to services.
Governor Sakaja confirmed that targeted enforcement will follow for those who fail to meet safety standards or obstruct public spaces.
“We are giving every developer a fair chance to comply,” he said, adding that enforcement will be guided by fairness and a focus on protecting lives and restoring order in the city.
To promote transparency, the county government plans to launch a real-time online dashboard that will allow Nairobi residents to track applications, approvals, and safety improvements.
With this framework, the Sakaja administration aims to shift Nairobi’s urban growth from informal and unregulated to structured and safe — creating a capital city where compliance safeguards both lives and livelihoods.
by STAR REPORTER
