Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s weekend remarks that the city would see “25-storey” developments approved in areas previously designated as low-density have sparked heavy criticism from a section of Kenyans.
The Governor, who defended his government’s approval of high-rise apartment buildings in suburbs such as Kileleshwa, Kilimani and Lavington, said that there was no other way to expand Nairobi other than “up”.
“Nairobi is 696 square kilometres; in 2050, it will have a population of 10.5 million people. Tutapanua Nairobi? Hapana. The only place we have to go is up”, he is quoted as saying.
A recent report by NTV laid bare the misery of some residents of the affected neighbourhoods who have seen property values go down due to congestion and reduced appeal.
Here is a look at what some had to say about Nairobi County’s apparent removal of zoning regulations in these areas:
As converting Nairobi City into a slum is now official policy, we are witnessing the end of Nairobi as a GREAT CITY. In few years, Nairobi will be a big slum city like Kinshasa or Mogadishu. UNEP will pull out of Nairobi. Embassies based here that cover East & Central Africa will relocate to Kigali. It is truly sad how political excitement makes politicians destroy a City & Country. What a sad epitaph to Nairobi. – Donald Kipkorir, prominent city lawyer
OUR RIGHT to a working City is the most basic. You will not erode it with recklessness and greed. Needless to remind you that this was the drug of choice of all your predecessors, and they failed. We are aware of our urbanization and population growth rate, all we want is a sensible path to the city’s growth. Nobody is against development, what people want is a plan that encompasses city residents. A Governor cannot wake up and tell us he’s decided we do 25 floors, those days are long gone. Re-zone the city, consult residents and have that 25yrs plan to 2050 that you’re talking about. Anything else is personal fantasy thy will be opposed. – Nashon Okowa, former Chairman of the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya (ACMK)
We now need to rightfully demand planning as our speculations have been proved right! Development must be backed by Urban Planning! – Karen Langata District Association
