Nairobi City Hall has issued notices to 158 building owners in the Central Business District (CBD) after they failed to meet a 14-day deadline to repaint their properties.
The crackdown follows an intensive inspection exercise launched on Monday, targeting major commercial areas in a renewed effort to enforce urban maintenance regulations and restore the capital’s aesthetics.
According to a statement from City Hall, 41 buildings have so far complied with the directive, while repainting work is ongoing in 43 others.
However, 31 buildings have not adhered to the notice at all. Out of 101 buildings that have been reinspected, 57 names have already been forwarded for further action, with 19 statements sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to initiate possible prosecution.
Additionally, 10 statements have been returned with comments, and 28 others remain under review by the ODPP.
Five property owners requested deadline extensions—one was rejected, two remain under review, and two were granted.
Health and Nutrition CEC Suzanne Silantoi said the county has now moved into the enforcement phase, with officers dispatched to verify buildings that remain non-compliant with the repainting order.
“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.”
The directive affects property owners, tenants and
management agents within key commercial zones, including the CBD, Westlands,
Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road and major shopping centres.
Non-compliant buildings risk statutory closure or prosecution for violating public health and maintenance laws.
Silantoi emphasised that the initiative goes beyond appearance, noting that many structures have not been repainted in decades, contributing to the gradual deterioration of the city’s image.
“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,” she said.
To increase compliance, Governor Johnson Sakaja waived all repainting permit fees, easing the financial burden on landlords and business owners still grappling with tough economic conditions.
The directive is anchored in the Public Health Act (Cap 242) and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), which require buildings to maintain minimum public health and structural upkeep standards.
City Hall noted that several prominent buildings have already complied. However, the county says the wider campaign will continue until all targeted buildings meet the required standards.
Earlier, the Health and Nutrition Department clarified that the exercise is not merely cosmetic. “This is not just about aesthetics; it’s about hygiene, pride and restoring Nairobi’s image as a clean, modern African capital,” the department said.
