NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County has ordered high-rise developers operating in Kileleshwa to pay for damage caused to public infrastructure, following complaints that construction activities have blocked water and sewer lines, triggering flooding and environmental concerns.
The directive was issued on Friday, December 20, after the Embassy of the Netherlands formally complained to the county over construction works near its premises that allegedly obstructed sewage and water flow. The embassy warned that the situation posed serious environmental and public health risks.
“Discharge of wastewater from the construction site into the storm drain that flows into the river poses both environmental and public health concerns,” the embassy said in a statement. “We respectfully request that the relevant authorities review these matters and take appropriate action to prevent environmental hazards and maintain public safety.”
County officials said preliminary inspections confirmed damage to sewer lines, walkways, and other public utilities, prompting the decision to compel developers to take responsibility for repairs and restoration.
Residents of Dikdik Gardens estate in Kileleshwa echoed the embassy’s concerns, reporting persistent sewage overflows and contamination of the Kirichwa Ndogo River. They accused developers of ignoring planning conditions and environmental safeguards.
“We are living with raw sewage flowing into the river and sometimes backing up into residential areas,” one resident said. “We want the county, together with NCA and NEMA, to stop these constructions until the issues raised by residents are fully addressed.”
The residents have formally petitioned the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to intervene, including suspending works at sites accused of damaging public infrastructure.
The Kileleshwa dispute adds to a growing list of conflicts between residents, developers, and regulators in Nairobi’s rapidly densifying neighbourhoods.
Along Peponi Road in Westlands, authorities earlier stopped the construction of a 13-storey building after cracks developed on its pillars, forcing the evacuation of neighbouring properties. In April, the Parklands Residents Association secured a court order barring developers accused of destroying roads, old residential houses and trees near City Park Forest.
In November, residents of Lavington’s Mbaazi Avenue moved to the Supreme Court, arguing that deep excavations for a 16-storey project threatened the structural stability of adjacent four-storey townhouses built on shared rock formations.
Similar complaints were raised in September by homeowners along Kindaruma Road in Kilimani, who reported wall cracks caused by vibrations from heavy construction machinery on an adjacent “beacon-to-beacon” development.
In response to mounting pressure, Nairobi City County earlier this month announced a six-month amnesty allowing developers to regularise unauthorised buildings. The county, however, warned that structures erected on public land, those that violate zoning regulations, or those defying court orders would face demolition.
The county’s latest action in Kileleshwa also comes against the backdrop of a September 2025 Court of Appeal ruling that ordered Nairobi County to publish a clear and transparent zoning framework within six months.
The court said the lack of coherent zoning policies had fuelled disputes between residents and developers across the city.
Urban planning experts say the Kileleshwa case underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of planning laws and environmental regulations as Nairobi continues to grow vertically.
While affordable housing and urban densification remain key policy goals, residents and diplomats alike have insisted that development must not come at the expense of public safety, environmental protection and existing infrastructure.
County officials said further inspections are ongoing, adding that developers found culpable will be required to fully repair damaged infrastructure and comply with environmental and planning standards before construction can proceed.
