For years, Nairobi's skyline has changed almost overnight. Apartment blocks have sprung up where single homes once stood, high-rise developments have appeared on narrow roads, and new estates have stretched infrastructure to its limits.
Now, the county says it is drawing a line.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially gazetted the Development Control Policy 2026, a new planning framework designed to bring greater order to how Nairobi grows. The policy, which takes effect immediately, introduces a single set of development guidelines that will govern future building approvals across the city.
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Instead of relying on fragmented planning decisions, new developments will now be assessed using clear zoning regulations, building height limits, density requirements, and environmental safeguards. County officials say approvals will also take into account whether an area has adequate roads, water supply and sewerage infrastructure before new projects are allowed to proceed.
The move comes as Nairobi continues to experience rapid urbanisation, with increasing pressure on public infrastructure and growing concerns over unplanned development in many neighbourhoods.
Areas such as Kilimani and Lavington have been experiencing water shortages, poor drainage systems, and poor roads, something that developers say the county has been slacking in improving and working on.
Some of the developers we have talked to share that the responsibility of improving infrastructure, such as roads and drainage, lie on the county and not with them.
According to the county, the policy is intended to create more certainty for developers while protecting existing communities, public spaces, and the environment. It also aims to strengthen enforcement of planning regulations, an area that urban planners have long argued has contributed to overcrowding and incompatible land uses in parts of the capital.
The framework was developed through public participation involving residents, developers, and planning professionals before being approved by the Nairobi City County Assembly.
County officials say the new policy supports Nairobi's broader urban renewal plans and is expected to encourage more sustainable, well-planned investment as the city continues to expand.
