Built environment professionals in Nairobi have raised alarm over what they call a growing crisis of illegal and irregular high-rise developments in the city, warning that the surge threatens public safety, planning integrity and environmental sustainability.
In a joint statement on Thursday, April 24, several professional associations and institutions demanded an immediate technical audit of all recent high-rise approvals and called for greater public accountability, including disclosure of development approvals and their compliance status. "Nairobi is at a tipping point," said the group in the statement, adding, "The proliferation of non-compliant buildings threatens not only the physical safety of residents but also the credibility of Kenya's planning institutions, the value of real estate investments and trust in our public systems." The statement criticised the weakening of development control processes and claimed that political and executive actors were colluding to bypass regulations. The professionals pointed to the recent blocking of a Nairobi County Assembly subcommittee investigating the issue as a sign of deteriorating institutional oversight.
They also warned that environmental degradation caused by unchecked construction - including encroachment on riparian reserves, destruction of green spaces and strain on infrastructure - was compounding climate risks and undermining Nairobi's ecological balance. "The sustainability of Nairobi's future hinges on strict adherence to environmental safeguards enshrined in our planning and building codes," read the statement.
The group outlined a five-point call to action: a city-wide audit of high-rise approvals, public disclosure of development compliance records, stronger development controls free from political interference, protection for oversight institutions and whistle-blowers, and a multi-stakeholder dialogue on urban resilience. "This is not just a political matter," the professionals noted. "It is a professional, legal and moral crisis that demands urgent, coordinated action." They pledged to work with both county and national governments to restore integrity to Nairobi's built environment and ensure the city develops in a safe, inclusive and climate-conscious way.
