Nairobi council puts zoning on hold

The City Council has agreed to stop re-zoning of Nairobi pending consultations with the residents.

Responding to a petition by Nairobi Group of Residents’ Associations, the council was, however, not categorical whether major decisions on re-zoning would await the inception of Nairobi County Government or not.

Mayor George Aladwa said the council had engaged a private consultant to undertake a study on re-zoning and that crucial services like electricity, water, roads, sewerage and solid waste management must be in place before it is implemented.

Accompanied by assistant Town Clerk Daniel Masetu and deputy director of city planning Rose Muema, Mr Aladwa said Nairobi residents will be asked to submit proposals before recommendations of the study are implemented.

Nairobi Group of Residents Association chairman V.H.D Bakrania and Ms Sansi Dietz led other members in filing a petition addressed to Mr Aladwa, Town Clerk Roba Duba and Local Government minister Fred Gumo, demanding the stoppage of the proposed re-zoning of Nairobi
neighbourhoods.

“We believe that before any re-zoning is decided upon, detailed consultations with affected Residents’ Associations should take place and as specified in the Urban Area and City Act of 2011 which calls for participation of residents in decision making and promotion of healthy environment,” the petition said.

The association said it is not opposed to progress, but that it should take place in a “participative and orderly manner".

“We do not wish to see a situation in which developers looking solely for profit are allowed to submit proposals for high rise apartments, commercial malls and multiple dwellings that are not keeping with existing residential development,” Mr Bakrania, who read the petition at the Mayor’s parlour, said.

The association said City Hall needs to act on illegal structures that contravene city by laws and developments on public land, including riparian areas.

It also took issue with the grabbing of land meant for Gigiri Fire Station despite deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi having stopped further development at the site when he was Local Government minister.

The group further complained of mushrooming of highrise apartments and illegal structures in Kiuna, Muthaiga, Lower Kabete road and other upmarket saying the areas “were left sparsely for a reason” and that the developments could negatively affect their future.

No cause for alarm

They further protested lack of recreational facilities and parks due to land grabbing.

On Thursday, Mayor Aladwa said there’s no cause for alarm as no re-zoning had started.

Ms Muema said the council commissioned a study last year to understand the urban dynamics as a lot of people were requesting for sub-division of their plots or change of use.

“We contracted a private consultant to undertake the study. Consultations have been ongoing. There’s no re-zoning done yet. We have a preliminary report on what is happening in areas. The study is crucial as we prepare a Masterplan for the city,” Ms Muema said.

She regretted that the council has been relying on a Masterplan that was prepared in 1963 and expired in 2000.

She said those planning to develop their plots should indicate so in a board on the site for 14 days as sometimes their neighbours do not see adverts placed on newspapers. Any objection should be forwarded to the council.

Residential apartments have mushroomed in once posh and quiet Nairobi suburbs in recent years.

The population living there is also growing rapidly.

Among the groups that opposed the council's move to allow uncoordinated highrise buildings in the areas are New Muthaiga Association, Muthaiga Association, Runda Association, Hill View Association, Spring Valley Association, Lake View Association, Kitisuru Association, Farasi Lane Association, Grevallia Association, Kibagare Association, Loresho Association, Lavington Association, Kirawa Association, Lavington Association, Nyari Association and Rossylyn Development.