Non-compliant building owners face closure, prosecution starting Monday

Non-compliant property owners in the capital who have failed to repaint their buildings following the lapse of a 14-day ultimatum issued by City Hall are staring at possible penalties as the county begins a citywide inspection on Monday to ensure all premises are properly maintained.

Confirming the move, Health and Nutrition CECM Suzanne Silantoi said officers from the County Department of Health and Nutrition will embark on an intensive verification exercise to identify buildings that have not met the repainting directive.

“From Monday, our officers will commence compliance checks on all buildings — both those that have repainted and those that have not. We issued a 14-day ultimatum, and while many have responded positively, a number are still lagging behind,” said Silantoi.

She added that the directive covers property owners, tenants, and management agents in key commercial zones including the CBD, Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road, and major shopping centers. Non-compliant buildings risk penalties such as statutory closure or prosecution.

“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,” Silantoi added.

To encourage compliance, Governor Johnson Sakaja waived all repainting permit fees — a move aimed at easing the financial burden on property owners amid tough economic times.

The directive is anchored in the Public Health Act (Cap 242) and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), which require all buildings to meet minimum public health and maintenance standards.

Silantoi noted that while a commendable number of property owners have already complied — including the I&M Building among others — some have ignored the notice, with several buildings reportedly not repainted since they were constructed decades ago.

With inspections set to begin Monday, Nairobians should expect to see a renewed effort to restore the city’s skyline and uphold its image as a vibrant, modern African capital.