NAIROBI, Kenya – Property owners in Nairobi who failed to repaint their buildings within the 14-day deadline issued by City Hall now face stiff penalties, as the county government begins a citywide inspection starting Monday, November 10.
The enforcement drive, led by officers from the County Department of Health and Nutrition, will target all buildings in major commercial zones — including the Central Business District (CBD), Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road, and key shopping centres.
Confirming the operation, Health and Nutrition CEC Suzanne Silantoi said the inspection will focus on verifying compliance with the repainting directive issued two weeks ago.
“From Monday, our officers will commence compliance checks on all buildings, both those that have repainted and those that have not,” Silantoi said. “We issued a 14-day ultimatum, and while many have responded positively, a number are still lagging behind.”
According to Silantoi, non-compliant property owners risk penalties that include statutory closure, prosecution, or other measures provided under the Public Health Act (Cap 242) and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019).
To encourage compliance, Governor Johnson Sakaja earlier announced a waiver of all repainting permit fees, citing the tough economic climate facing landlords and businesses.
“Restoring Nairobi’s image as a clean, modern African capital is paramount. This is the capital city. We must reflect that in how our buildings look,” Silantoi added.
City Hall insists that no deadline extensions will be granted, as the directive forms part of Sakaja’s broader plan to modernise Nairobi and enhance its appeal to investors.
Sakaja has repeatedly stressed that maintaining urban aesthetics and hygiene is central to his administration’s agenda.
“We cannot allow Nairobi to fall into decay. Every stakeholder must play their part in keeping the city clean, safe, and livable,” he said in a previous address.
While several landmark buildings such as I&M Building have already complied, officials lamented that others have ignored the notice — with some structures reportedly not repainted in decades.
The upcoming inspection marks the next phase in City Hall’s clean-up campaign, which aims to restore Nairobi’s skyline and reinforce its identity as a vibrant, modern African capital.
