Nairobi City County has rolled out a six-month legal amnesty window that allows housing developers and property owners to regularise unauthorised developments without paying penalties. The initiative is aimed at strengthening tenure security, promoting property rights through the urban planning legal framework, and improving the delivery of physical and social infrastructure across estates in the capital.
County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Patrick Mbogo, announced the coming into force of the Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorized Developments Regulations, 2025. These regulations provide a one-time opportunity for owners of both completed and ongoing developments to bring their properties into compliance.
How the Amnesty Works and Who Qualifies
Under the amnesty, applicants are encouraged to “submit what you have”, even if documentation is incomplete. The County Urban Planning Department will guide applicants on additional documents required during the review process. Successful applicants will receive conditional approvals, and after meeting all conditions, a Certificate of Compliance will be issued. This formally recognises the developments and enters them into county records.
The regularisation covers:
- Change or extension of use to land or buildings
- Subdivisions and amalgamations of land
- Building plans
- Occupation approvals
- Lease renewals
Exclusions are clearly defined: structures on public land, riparian reserves, protected areas, unsafe buildings, and developments violating court orders will not be regularised.
All applications must be certified by registered professionals such as Physical Planners, Architects, and Engineers, who will be held accountable for the submissions. Application fees will be charged according to the Nairobi City County Finance Act, and submissions can be made through the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS), sub-county offices, or City Hall.
Chief Officer for Urban Development, Patrick Analo Akivaga, explained that the initiative aims to enhance property rights, improve tenure security, provide access to approval documents for credit and finance, reduce enforcement disputes, prevent demolitions, integrate developments into county infrastructure plans, and promote safer, organised urban growth.
The notice urges housing owners and developers to take advantage of the six-month window, warning that compliance will be strictly enforced once the amnesty period ends in June 2026.
