Nairobi City County has issued stern warnings to contractors undertaking Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) works after a status review revealed significant delays in key urban infrastructure projects across several informal settlements.
Contractors working in Kayole Soweto, Kahawa Soweto, Embakasi and Matopeni have been put on notice after Lot 1 of the project recorded a completion rate of just 27.3 per cent, far below the targeted 98 per cent.
County officials described the performance as unacceptable, given the critical nature of the works to residents.
The decision was reached during a high-level status meeting chaired by Acting County Secretary and Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal, Godfrey Akumali.
The meeting was attended by members of the KISIP National Team and focused on stalled projects and contractor accountability.
“The current state of Lot 1 is unacceptable,” Akumali said. “We will not compromise on the quality or speed of delivery promised to the people of Nairobi.”
Following the review, Akumali ordered the immediate issuance of a non-performance notice to the affected contractors, directing them to significantly improve progress by February 3, 2026, or risk termination of their contracts.
The directive also requires contractors to clear five months’ salary arrears owed to workers and urgently address all outstanding safety hazards at project sites.
County officials said failure to meet these conditions would trigger contract termination in line with project guidelines and procurement laws.
Concerns were also raised over Phase 2 works in Majengo, Huruma and Mathare, where progress currently stands at 1.5 per cent.
The county announced that a notice to terminate the contract will be issued by January 30, 2026, citing the contractor’s failure to respond to earlier warnings issued in late 2025.
Akumali said the county government would not allow continued delays that compromise service delivery and public safety in informal settlements.
“Governor Sakaja’s administration will not tolerate contractors who jeopardise the safety and development of our informal settlements,” he said.
“We are committed to either salvaging these projects or reassigning them to partners who share our vision for order and dignity for all Nairobians.”
The Acting County Secretary, who also heads the Nairobi County Project Coordination Team, said the county remains focused on ensuring that KISIP projects deliver improved roads, drainage, sanitation and public infrastructure to residents living in informal settlements.
County officials reaffirmed their commitment to strict oversight, warning that continued non-performance would lead to decisive administrative action to protect public funds and restore confidence in urban renewal programmes.
