A Nairobi court has declared that all development permits issued for the Parklands area since 2019 were unlawful, exposing serious lapses in the city’s urban planning framework and placing City Hall on the spot over its compliance with national planning laws.
In a judgment delivered on October 14, the court ruled that the Nairobi City County Government has been issuing building approvals without the statutory plans required under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act. These include the County Physical and Land Use Consultative Forum, a County Physical and Land Use Development Plan, and a Local Development Plan specifically for Parklands.
The petition, filed by the Parklands Residents Association (PRA), accused the county of authorizing uncoordinated developments that have worsened congestion, strained infrastructure, and harmed the environment.
“The respondents have violated residents’ rights to life, human dignity, and a clean and healthy environment,” the court ruled.
The court has now directed City Hall to constitute a consultative forum within six months and to prepare and publish both a countywide and local development plan within a year. Failure to do so, it warned, would render all developments approved in Parklands since 2019 “illegal and irregular.” Nairobi County and its planning department were also ordered to pay the full costs of the petition.
The ruling was hailed by the PRA as a milestone for environmental justice and accountability. “This is a victory for residents who have long called for responsible planning,” said one of the association’s lawyers after the verdict.
Urban governance experts have also welcomed the judgment, describing it as a turning point for city management. “It sends a clear message that planning laws are not optional,” said urban analyst Jane Mwangi. “For Nairobi to grow sustainably, authorities must respect the law.”
For Parklands residents, the ruling brings long-awaited validation of their concerns. For City Hall, it serves as a warning that unplanned urban expansion can no longer be excused by administrative neglect.