Nairobi County has launched a comprehensive review of development controls and land-use zoning across some of the city’s most affluent and high-growth neighbourhoods, including Kilimani, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Riverside and parts of Karen.
According to a civic education and visioning brief for the Woodley/Kilimani Zone Local Physical and Land Use Development Plan (LPLUDP), Nairobi County unveiled the first stakeholder engagement forum for a 10-year land-use and zoning plan covering 10 wards in the Southern and Western Boroughs.
“This document is intended to provide the public and other stakeholders with an overview of the key thematic areas and issues that will be covered during the First Stakeholder Engagement Forum to be undertaken within the planning zone,” reads part of the document.
“A vision is a concise statement that describes the desired future state of the planning area over the plan period (10 years).”
Nairobi Begins 10-Year Development Plan for 10 Wards
The planning area covers approximately 36.13 square kilometers, equivalent to 3,613 hectares, and cuts across 10 wards in Nairobi’s Southern and Western boroughs.
Under the Woodley/Kilimani Zone LPLUDP, the planning area covers 10 wards: Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Karen, Mugumu-ini, Nyayo Highrise, Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course, Laini Saba, Lindi, Makina and Sarang’ombe.
Additionally, the planning exercise will assess existing development patterns and identify priorities that will guide future growth and investment in the area over the next decade.
Among the issues to be examined are land use, including zoning, development pressures, land-use changes, subdivision practices and property development trends.
The consultants preparing the plan will also assess existing and proposed residential densities, housing typologies, housing affordability, housing demand and supply, redevelopment and urban renewal initiatives.
The review comes as different parts of the planning zone experience varying development patterns, with the plan seeking to establish the infrastructure and services required to support future growth.
What Will Be Reviewed
Transport and mobility will also form part of the review, with residents expected to identify traffic congestion hotspots, road reserve encroachments, transport bottlenecks and gaps in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
The exercise will further examine public transport services, traffic circulation, road hierarchy, pedestrian crossings, footbridges, traffic-calming measures and existing and proposed transport terminals.
The plan will assess infrastructure and utility services, including water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, electricity, street lighting, solid waste management, public health, and communication services.
Residents will be asked to provide information on service reliability, water rationing, electricity outages, waste collection services, charges and gaps requiring investment.
The plan will also assess public facilities such as health centres, schools, vocational training institutions, playgrounds, social halls and other community facilities.
Other infrastructures
For schools, the assessment will consider capacity, enrolment, classrooms, laboratories, sanitation, playgrounds, staffing and other service gaps, while health facilities will be assessed based on their location, condition, services and capacity.
Environmental protection will be another key component of the planning exercise.
The identified environmental assets include the Nairobi River, Kirichwa Kubwa River, Kirichwa Ndogo River, Ngong River, riparian reserves, wetlands, groundwater sources, Ngong Forest, Nairobi Arboretum and Nairobi Dam.
The consultants will assess threats to these resources arising from urbanization and other human activities and identify possible restoration and conservation measures.
Disaster risk will also be considered, with stakeholders expected to identify flood-prone areas, fire hotspots, areas affected by soil erosion and landslides, noise and vibration hotspots and other environmental and technological hazards.
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How Public Participation Will Take Place
The first stakeholder engagements are scheduled to begin on September 23, 2026, with sessions planned for different wards through September 30.
The Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course Ward engagement is scheduled for September 23, followed by Sarang’ombe on September 24 and Lindi on September 25. Laini Saba and Makina are scheduled for September 28, while Mugumo-ini and Nyayo Highrise are scheduled for September 29.
Kilimani and Kileleshwa engagements are scheduled for September 30.
The consultation process will involve residents, resident associations, traders, developers, property owners, community and faith-based organizations, government representatives and other institutions.
Participants will be expected to identify current challenges and opportunities, emerging development trends and priority interventions that could inform the final plan.
The visioning exercise will seek to establish where the planning area is currently, where it is heading, where residents want it to be in the future and the measures required to achieve that vision.
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