The Nairobi County Assembly Planning Committee has ordered the suspension of the Kangemi regeneration project following a petition from residents who fear losing their land. The ward representatives argued that public input must be prioritized before the multi-billion initiative moves forward.
Minority Leader and Planning Committee member, Antony Kiragu, said locals had raised concerns about possible displacement from their ancestral land.
“We have instructed the CEC for Planning, Mr. Mbogo, to stop all planning activities in the areas that have been marked until the matter is heard through lawful public participation,” Kiragu stated.
Residents insist they are not occupying riparian land and maintain that their property ownership is legally documented. Ambassador Marx Kahende, one of the petitioners, stressed that the community’s rights under Article 40 of the Constitution must be respected.
“We are environmentally conscious, but forcing us out of our private property is a violation of our rights. We should not be discriminated against in the application of the law,” he told the Committee.
In response, County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Patrick Mbogo, distanced the county government from the beaconing exercise, saying the initiative was being driven by a multi-agency team. The committee has pledged to summon the Nairobi Rivers Commission and other stakeholders to clarify the project’s scope and legality.
The Nairobi regeneration programme was launched to restore the Nairobi River and surrounding areas, with plans for affordable housing, better infrastructure, improved sanitation, and job creation. Targeting informal settlements such as Kibera, Mathare, and Kangemi, the project seeks to make Nairobi greener, healthier, and more livable.
However, affected residents argue that while environmental renewal is welcome, it must not come at the expense of their homes and legally acquired land. The Planning Committee is expected to conduct further hearings before any works resume.
