This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
On August 30, 2019, Nairobi City County launched a crackdown on building owners who had failed to repaint their premises as directed by Governor Mike Sonko.
As a result, 10 people were arrested, including Jane Asena, caretaker of Karachi House, and Charles Ndung'u Mwangi, a director of a building along Latema/Lagos Road.
Acting County Secretary Leboo Morintat explained that the targeted individuals were building owners, caretakers, and tenants who had ignored the directive issued by Sonko three months prior.
County health and inspectorate officers had been inspecting buildings since Wednesday morning to ensure compliance with the repainting directive.
Buildings that had been put on notice included Loise House on Latema Road, Jiame House along Haile Selassie, Karachi House on River Road, Leon House on Tom Mboya Street, Construst House and Ambassador House on Moi Avenue, and commercial houses on cross roads.
"We believe that they all read our notice which we published in the local dailies and that is why we are going for them. The county will shut down premises that have not been repainted and those involved charged accordingly," said Mr Morintat.
The repainting of buildings in the city was a regular occurrence, happening every two years, aimed at improving the aesthetic value of the city.
