Nairobi County is set to usher in a new era of structured urban growth following the passage of the Nairobi City County Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Bill, 2025. Once assented to by Governor Johnson Sakaja, the new law will provide a legal framework for regularising developments constructed without official approval.
The initiative seeks to address the growing urban sprawl and haphazard construction that has plagued Nairobi for years, especially in densely populated areas like Eastlands, Embakasi, Mwiki, Utawala, Roysambu, Pipeline, and Kasarani. According to Urban Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo, these zones house close to two million people and have witnessed widespread unregulated development due to disputes over land ownership or the absence of formal planning.
“This law will offer an opportunity for those who built without approval to regularise their developments, submit architectural drawings, have them reviewed, and be included in our system,” Analo stated.
Governor Sakaja highlighted that Nairobi’s daytime population exceeds seven million, stressing the urgent need for better housing and planned development to accommodate current and future generations. “It is paramount for our sake and for future generations,” he noted.
The law aims to formalise previously omitted properties in the county’s valuation roll, improving revenue collection and enhancing urban planning. It provides a path for landowners who constructed on untitled or contested land to have their developments assessed, approved, and recorded officially.
To facilitate the process, the bill proposes the establishment of an Advisory Committee and a Regularisation Technical Committee. These bodies will be tasked with overseeing implementation, reviewing applications, and ensuring compliance with planning standards.
Once the law is operational, property owners will be required to apply for regularisation upon official notification. The county hopes this process will not only bring order to urban development but also resolve long-standing land ownership and use challenges.
The new legislation marks a significant shift in Nairobi’s approach to urban management, offering a chance to harmonise growth with regulation while empowering residents to legitimise their properties and contribute to a better-planned city.
