Nairobi landlords may soon be required to present building plans for review and determination of structural suitability of buildings in the capital.
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Lands and Urban Planning Country Executive Charles Kerich, on Thursday, February 18, stated that City Hall was deliberating on Nairobi City Council Regularisation Act,2021.
The Act will require building owners to present their plans for review. Buildings found unfit will be brought down after inspection.
“Instead of first bringing down the buildings, we will have conversations with the owners so we can assist by having them apply for regularization and the buildings checked,” said Kerich.
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Charles Kerich, Lands and Urban Planning Country executive
A task force is already in place and has been gazetted to draft the Act which will be submitted to the Assembly within a month.
The move mainly targets property owners within Nairobi, who put up buildings without legal approvals from the National Physical Planning Act and other relevant Nairobi city county legislation.
“The review will ensure that those with unapproved buildings regularise the same and the owners will be told the amount they owe the county. If the plans are found to be okay, the county government will give one the approval they ought to have gotten before and thereafter pay for the requisite planning approval plan,” said Kerich.
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He added that owners will be granted approvals and occupation certificates after the inspection is complete.
“If the development is found to be structurally unsound, it does not mean it will be brought down immediately. Our engineers will examine it and give recommendations, but if it is found to be condemned, the structure will be brought down,” he warned.
The County executive committee explained that the review aims at boosting the revenue generated via the renewal of building permits and ensuring the safety of the people in Nairobi. Numerous cases of collapsed buildings due to poor workmanship have been reported in Nairobi. Permits ensure that constructors comply with state and local codes and safety standards. Failure to acquire a building permit is a violation of Contractors License Law and attracts fines.
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“Apart from safety, the review is also a good source of revenue for the county as it is certain that many people will come to regularize their buildings to avoid them being demolished,” stated Kerich.
To acquire a business permit in Nairobi, you need to do the following: register with Nairobi city council self-service portal, submit architectural plans, pay for permit fees, obtain architectural plans approval notification, submit architectural plans for signing, obtain authenticated plans and construction permit, submit structural plans, obtain structural plans approval notification, submit structural plans for signing, obtain authenticated structural plans.