By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, 5 June 2026 - The Kenya Alliance of Residents Associations (KARA) has welcomed the arrest of Nairobi City County's Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, describing it as a significant step toward addressing longstanding concerns over governance.
In a press statement the residents' association noted that the arrest is equally important for transparency, and accountability in the city's planning and development management systems.
The residents' umbrella body is now calling for full implementation of recommendations by the Office of the Ombudsman and broader institutional reforms to restore public confidence in Nairobi's planning processes.
For several years, Resident Associations and stakeholders in the built environment, they said, have raised concerns about irregular approval processes, non-compliance with zoning regulations, inadequate public participation, and weak enforcement of planning standards.
“These challenges have contributed to environmental degradation, pressure on infrastructure, increased disaster risks, and growing public distrust in planning institutions,” they said in a statement to newsrooms.
They said the arrest underscores the urgent need to address longstanding concerns regarding governance, transparency, and adherence to planning regulations within Nairobi City County.
The resident association they said recent findings by the commission of admirative justice highlighted serious administrative shortcomings and governance failures within Nairobi City's planning and development management systems.
The Ombudsman's recommendations they noted in their statement called for stronger accountability mechanisms, enhanced transparency in development approvals, improved enforcement of planning laws, and corrective action against officers found culpable of misconduct or abuse of office.
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KARA further calls for full implementation of the Ombudsman's recommendations relating to planning and development management within Nairobi City County.
They also want a comprehensive audit of development approvals issued over the past several years, particularly in areas where residents have consistently raised concerns regarding irregular developments.
The association are also calling for strengthening transparency mechanisms, including public access to planning approvals, change-of-user applications, Environmental Impact Assessment reports, and development compliance records.
The resident’s body also want enhanced public participation and stakeholder engagement in planning decisions affecting neighbourhoods and communities.
They also called for institutional reforms within the Urban Development and Planning Department to improve accountability, service delivery, and compliance with planning laws and regulations.
“Nairobi's future depends on a planning system that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the interests of residents and investors alike,” they said in their statement.