Kajiado County has taken a bold step in curbing illegal development practices after years of unchecked construction activity in the expansive region. In a move that has caught many developers off guard but offered a sense of relief to local residents, the county government has paused all pending development applications and now requires applicants to secure a no-objection letter from residents’ associations before proceeding.
This decision follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Engagement between the Kajiado County Alliance of Residents Associations (K-CARA) and the County Government, aimed at fostering collaboration between these two entities. As per the new agreement, all development applications must now obtain a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the relevant Residents’ Association through their municipal alliances before they can be processed by the County Government.
During the signing ceremony at the County government offices in Kajiado town, Hamilton Parseina, the CECM for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development, emphasized the importance of the agreement, calling it a significant milestone for the county. “This agreement is a game-changer for our residents,” Parseina stated. “We are integrating structured citizen participation into governance to ensure that development meets community needs, adheres to environmental guidelines, and complies with legal standards. Going forward, no project will move forward without the approval of local residents, ensuring accountability from the grassroots level.”
Parseina also clarified that any development applications that have already been submitted but are still awaiting approval must be returned to the applicants for the required No Objection Letter from the appropriate Residents’ Association.
The move comes as a welcome relief to residents, particularly in areas like Kitengela, Kajiado East, where developers have previously bypassed zoning regulations to construct high-density rental properties in areas not designated for such developments. This initiative is expected to restore order and ensure that future developments align with the interests and concerns of local communities.
