Nairobi MCAs are set to begin an extensive review of building approvals and outdoor advertising activities across the city, as the County Assembly moves to tighten oversight of the rapidly expanding construction and billboard sectors.
The Assembly’s Lands, Planning and Housing Committee will next week commence scrutiny of ongoing construction projects, with members expected to examine whether developments have obtained the requisite approvals and are complying with approved plans, zoning requirements, and other development-control standards.
The committee will also turn its attention to the growing number of billboards, signage, and other outdoor advertisements, amid concerns over clutter, regulatory breaches, road-user safety, and possible revenue leakages.
The Lands, Planning and Housing Committee is mandated to deal with county planning and development, housing, and outdoor advertisement.
Committee members on Thursday met officials from the county planning department to agree on timelines and modalities for the exercise, which is expected to run over the next year.
The review comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns over buildings allegedly coming up without proper approvals, developers deviating from approved plans, and inadequate follow-up inspections.
The Assembly has previously received complaints concerning the construction of non-approved buildings, failure to adhere to zoning regulations, and inadequate follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with quality standards.
The county has also introduced the Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorised Developments Act, 2025, providing a framework relating to unauthorised developments.
Geoffrey Majiwa, the newly elected chairperson of the committee and MCA for Baba Dogo, said the review would mark a departure from what he described as business as usual in the planning and development sector.
“We are going to undertake a serious review of approvals and developments across Nairobi. We want to know who approved what, whether the developments are being implemented according to the approved plans, and whether the law is being followed,” Majiwa said.
He said the committee would not be a rubber stamp to illegalities in the sector.
“Where there are questions, we will ask them, and where there are gaps, we will demand answers. Nairobi cannot continue with uncontrolled development.”
MCAs have similarly raised questions over the approval, installation, and regulation of outdoor advertising billboards, citing increasing numbers of structures, bright illuminated displays near roundabouts, and concerns about driver distraction and road safety.
The Assembly has also received a statement seeking clarification on escalating billboard clutter, regulatory breaches, and allegations of corruption, particularly in Kileleshwa.
The committee is expected to establish how many billboards are operating in Nairobi, their locations, ownership, approval status, and whether the requisite county fees have been paid.
The county’s financial documents show that outdoor advertising and billboards are a significant revenue stream.
For the 2025/26 financial year, Nairobi projected Sh1.21 billion from outdoor advertising, compared with Sh661 million actually collected in 2023/24.
Majiwa said the committee would therefore examine both compliance and revenue issues.
“We want a clean system where every billboard is accounted for, properly approved, and the county receives what is due to it. We will not allow Nairobi to become a jungle of billboards while public revenue is lost,” he said.
The committee’s one-year programme is also expected to involve engagements with developers, residents, and other stakeholders.