This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
Published on July 8, 2020, Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has taken a significant step towards reforming its urban planning process by establishing a new technical committee to handle building plan approvals.
The move comes after NMS director-general Mohammed Badi disbanded the pre-technical committee and the urban planning technical committee in May, citing their inefficiencies and alleged corruption.
The two committees were responsible for considering and approving development plans, but their operations were marred by delays and accusations of being run by cartels.
Major General Badi has now announced that the new multi-sectoral urban planning committee will handle all planning approvals, while his office will deal with planning tasks.
As a result, all property development applications will be submitted to the director-general's office for consideration.
"For the avoidance of any doubt, all planning/development complaints, applications or hoarding, occupation, renovation permits and hard copy prints of approved drawings are to be submitted to the second floor, amphitheatre wing of Kenyatta International Convention Centre," he said.
Major General Badi has also warned that development permits issued from March 18, 2020, must be processed under the new guidelines or risk being declared null and void.
"Prospective developers or investors and the general public are informed that Nairobi Metropolitan Services will not be liable for any of planning permits dated March 18, 2020, to date, which have not been processed within the above framework," he said.
