Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has affirmed that the ongoing construction of high-rise apartments in Kenya’s affluent neighborhoods will go on as planned.
Speaking during a church service in Bahati, Nairobi County, Sakaja said that Nairobi is taking an inevitable expansion route and therefore more room to accommodate more Kenyans must be created.
“I have heard people complaining that areas of Kileleshwa and Lavington homes were one-Storey buildings, now apartments have come. Nairobi is 696 square kilometers, in 2050 it will have a population of 10.5 million people. Will we expand Nairobi? No, the only place we have to go is up” he said.
“The only path forward is to address infrastructure essentials such as sewerage, water, and drainage,” he added.
This assertion by Governor Sakaja comes in the face of mounting discontent among Nairobians, who decry the transformation of the city’s upscale suburbs into towering concrete jungles.
Sakaja Gets Green Light to Proceed from President Ruto
Further, Sakaja disclosed that President William Ruto had given him the green light to proceed with the construction of high-rise buildings in the city, following the removal of longstanding restrictions.
These restrictions, which had been in force for decades, were recently scrapped, opening the door for the implementation of the Affordable Housing Programme.
“Previously, there were height restrictions, particularly in areas near the airport, stemming from the Eastleigh airbase downwards. I raised this concern with the President during the unveiling of houses in Kiambio and Bahati, highlighting the impracticality of evacuating the President through congested routes,” Sakaja explained.
“With the removal of these restrictions, we are now empowered to construct buildings of up to 25 floors, ushering in a new era of vertical development,” he declared.
Nairobi Zones
Formerly categorized as Zone Four by the Nairobi City Council, Kileleshwa had been subject to a four-floor limit on building permits.
Similarly, Lavington, alongside Upper Spring Valley, Kyuna, and Loresho, fell under Zone Five, imposing similar constraints.
However, recent developments have seen some apartments soar to heights of up to 15 floors, dwarfing the once-compliant structures and sparking grievances among residents.
Complaints range from waste disposal issues to sewer pipe bursts and inadequate water supply.
The removal of height restrictions by the national government has now empowered landlords and developers to erect buildings towering up to 25 floors, marking a significant departure from previous regulatory norms.
Speaking at a church gathering in Makadara, Sakaja, pointed out that the Kenya Kwanza government’s decision to eliminate the floor limit heralds a new era of urban development.
“The lifting of height restrictions, which were originally intended to facilitate presidential evacuation protocols during emergencies, reflects the changing dynamics of our city,” Sakaja remarked.
Sakaja Insist Vertical Expansion is Inevitable
He reiterated that with Nairobi facing a mounting housing crisis exacerbated by population growth, vertical expansion is imperative.
Also Read: Sakaja Lists Locations Clubs Will be Allowed to Operate & New Rules
“Given Nairobi’s limited geographical footprint, projected population surge, and escalating housing demand, the only viable solution is to build skyward,” Sakaja emphasized.
The governor’s stance comes amid criticism directed at his administration for greenlighting high-rise constructions, particularly in affluent neighborhoods like Kilimani and Kileleshwa.
Sakaja’s insistence and order comes at a time when public outcry from Kenyans and local representatives has been on increase, with Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, raising objections to the flouting of city building regulations.
