Nairobi sets deadline for repainting of city buildings

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has given landlords up to September 27 to repaint their buildings or face legal action as part of an on-going beautification project in the city.

In a public notice on Wednesday, the NMS directed building owners to redecorate their premises within 60 days, failing which they will be prosecuted under the Public Health Act.

“Colours to be applied shall be as originally approved and any changes must be approved by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services prior to applying,” read the notice signed by NMS director general Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdalla Badi, EBS, SS, ndc (K).

Unlike a previous repainting order by Governor Mike Sonko, which targeted commercial buildings within the city centre, Maj. Gen. Badi’s directive targets all buildings – both commercial and residential – within the Nairobi City County.

Besides, Sonko’s order had given landlords the freedom to either maintain their original building colours or change them as they please.

The directive, however, fell on deaf ears – forcing the county to issue an ultimatum for compliance. When the ultimatum failed to work the county went silent on the matter.

It will therefore be interesting to see how the NMS order will be received by landlords considering that many of them are struggling to collect rent in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has cut or completely discontinued the incomes of most tenants.

A spot check by CK revealed that a high number of stalls in the city centre are sitting empty after their occupiers vacated them over the past few months amid falling business activity.

To fill up the spaces, some landlords have lowered their rental charges while others are enticing new tenants by offering a free month of rent, zero goodwill, and other concessions.

The NMS will rely on the Public Health Act CAP 242 to prosecute non-compliant landlords. The Act empowers local authorities to, among other things, order periodical cleaning and painting of buildings.

READ: Buildings repainting order exposes archaic law

It also permits municipalities to make by-laws for controlling the construction of buildings – including regulating the materials that can be used to build houses within their territories.  

The Public Health Act also empowers local authorities to compel landlords to renovate or demolish dangerous or dilapidated buildings.

In the case of Nairobi City County, “every building should be painted at least once every year”.  This requirement does not bond well with some industry players who view it as out-dated since the minimum warranty period for most external paints is five years.

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