The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) has backed the Commission on Administrative Justice’s report on construction irregularities in Nairobi City County, saying it confirms what residents have long raised as serious concerns.
According to the statement by KARA, the Administrative Justice’s report exposes systemic governance failures, including approval of illegal developments and disregard for enforcement notices, which compromise safety, privacy, and property rights across the city.
“The Ombudsman’s report validates what residents across Nairobi have raised repeatedly over the years—that illegal developments are routinely approved, enforcement notices are ignored, and public officers charged with protecting the public interest instead facilitate or tolerate violations of planning and building laws,” KARA said.
The residents’ body noted that the report points to deliberate misconduct involving senior county officials, technical officers, and compromised approval processes, rather than isolated mistakes.
KARA expressed alarm that the county has repeatedly failed to enforce its own stop orders and revocation notices, saying that unchecked illegal construction signals “a collapse of accountability and an erosion of public trust in urban governance.”
The organization fully endorsed the Ombudsman’s recommendations, calling for criminal prosecution and disciplinary action against culpable officials, compensation for affected property owners, and comprehensive reforms in the county’s planning and development control systems.
“These actions are not optional—they are necessary to restore integrity, legality, and fairness in Nairobi’s urban development,” KARA said.
The association urged the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Nairobi City County Assembly, and the County Public Service Board to act decisively and without delay, warning that failure to implement the recommendations would entrench impunity and reinforce fears that unlawful development carries no real consequences.
KARA also called on professional regulatory bodies to sanction practitioners who submit non-compliant or misleading plans, emphasizing that professional accreditation “must not be used as a shield for unethical conduct.”
KARA said residents’ concerns go beyond technical planning disputes, noting: “Development that ignores the law is not progress—it is dispossession.”
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to civic engagement, oversight, and advocacy to ensure that the Ombudsman’s report leads to real accountability and lasting reform in Nairobi’s urban development.
Henry Ochieng, KARA Chief Executive Officer, stressed that the fight against illegal development is crucial for safety, dignity, and justice in Nairobi neighborhoods.
