The Court of Appeal has set July 7 as the date to hear a contempt of court application filed against Nairobi City County, with residents accusing the county government of dragging its feet on court-ordered reforms to urban planning and building development approvals.
The Kileleshwa Ward Neighbourhood Association and Metro Alliance jointly filed the application under Civil Appeal No. E160 of 2025. The two groups allege that the county and its executive committee member for built environment have failed to put in place a court-mandated regulatory framework for overseeing development activity within the city.
The appellate court moved swiftly, certifying the matter as urgent and empanelling a three-judge bench to handle proceedings virtually. Both parties are required to submit written arguments, though each side’s submissions are strictly capped at three pages to keep the hearing focused and efficient.
The contempt row traces back to a Structural Interdict issued against Nairobi County, which barred it from continuing to approve developments in an irregular manner and directed it to prepare a Local Physical and Land Use Development Plan. The petitioners say the county missed the compliance deadlines, which expired in March 2026, and after waiting a further month with no remedial action in sight, they proceeded to file the contempt proceedings in April.
The county, for its part, has not denied the delays but has instead applied for a six-month extension to meet the court’s requirements. County Chief Officer Patrick Analo Akivaga submitted an affidavit in support of the extension bid. Akivaga is separately under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over allegations of unexplained wealth, though it is important to note that no court has entered any finding of guilt against him.
Residents say that years of weak planning enforcement have allowed developers to put up structures that go well beyond the zoning limits set for their areas. They further argue that the unchecked construction has exacerbated environmental problems across the city, with Nairobi’s notorious flooding increasingly linked to developments that have eaten into drainage pathways and green spaces.
With the July 7 hearing now confirmed, the county will have to either demonstrate concrete steps toward compliance or face the possibility of adverse orders from the three-judge bench.
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