City Hall has issued a directive requiring the repainting of buildings across several key areas within the city. The move, which comes as part of a broader initiative to improve the city’s cleanliness and order, has been outlined by Patrick Akivaga, the Nairobi City County Urban Development and Planning Officer.
The directive affects four major areas, including the Central Business District (CBD), the Westlands Shopping Centre area, Upper Hill, and Ngara. Buildings within these areas, which are bounded by prominent roads such as Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie Avenue, University Way, and Kirinyaga Road, are required to be repainted within the next 90 days. Additionally, building owners, tenants, and property management agents are tasked with ensuring that street lighting is fully operational.
According to Akivaga, failure to comply with the directive within the stipulated timeframe will result in legal action. The notice was issued on Tuesday and will take immediate effect. After the 90-day period lapses, Nairobi’s county government will begin enforcement measures to ensure adherence to the repainting and lighting requirements.
The announcement follows Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s remarks on Sunday at the Church of Christ Africa in Buruburu, where he emphasized the need for a fresh coat of paint on some of the city’s neglected buildings. Sakaja highlighted the role of such cosmetic upgrades in boosting the city’s aesthetics, which could, in turn, attract more visitors and improve the overall image of Nairobi.
He also mentioned the government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal advertisements along city corridors, warning that those who put up unauthorized signs will face legal repercussions. In addition to these visual improvements, Sakaja reiterated the city’s determination to maintain cleanliness and order by removing hawkers from major walkways and corridors.
Sakaja has been vocal about his administration’s efforts to restore order in Nairobi, and the repainting of buildings forms part of a larger campaign to uplift the city’s infrastructure. Other ongoing upgrades include the recarpeting of roads in the CBD and in neighborhoods like Kilimani and Kileleshwa. With progress already being made, residents can expect further improvements in the coming months.
These initiatives underscore the city’s push for a cleaner, more organized environment that meets the needs of residents and visitors alike, while also contributing to the long-term growth and development of Nairobi.
