For thousands of Nairobi property owners living in fear of the dreaded “Sany” demolition squad, the clouds have momentarily parted. Governor Johnson Sakaja has today issued a critical directive offering a six-month amnesty window for the regularization of unapproved buildings across the capital.

The move, announced this morning at City Hall, effectively pauses the looming threat of mass demolitions that has unsettled the real estate sector for months. However, county officials were quick to clarify that this is not a blanket pardon for unsafe structures, but a strict timeline for compliance under the newly operational Nairobi Development Regulations of 2025.

The 'Compliance' Window

According to the directive, developers with completed buildings or ongoing projects lacking the necessary approvals have until June 2026 to submit their architectural and structural plans for validation. This “regularization” process allows owners to pay the requisite inspection fees and penalties to obtain a certificate of occupation, provided their structures meet safety standards.

The County Government emphasized that the initiative seeks to:

• Enhance Safety: Subject unapproved buildings to rigorous structural integrity tests to prevent collapse.
• Boost Revenue: Unlock billions in uncollected approval fees. Previous estimates suggest the county targets over KES 5 billion (approx. $38.5 million) from similar compliance drives.
• Update Records: Digitize the city’s chaotic property registry, bringing thousands of “ghost” buildings onto the rating roll.

A Double-Edged Sword?

While the directive offers relief to investors who sank millions into projects only to get entangled in bureaucratic red tape, urban planners are urging caution. The regularization of “illegal” buildings has historically been a contentious issue in Nairobi, often criticized for inadvertently encouraging impunity among rogue developers who build first and negotiate later.

“This is a pragmatic move to save investments, but it must be handled with absolute integrity,” noted a senior member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), who spoke on condition of anonymity. “If this window is used to rubber-stamp unsafe tenements in Pipeline or Zimmerman just to collect fees, we are merely postponing a disaster.”

The Economic Reality

For the average Nairobi landlord, this directive is a financial lifeline. With the cost of construction materials skyrocketing—cement and steel prices have remained volatile through 2025—the demolition of a multi-story apartment block represents a catastrophic loss of capital.

Governor Sakaja’s administration has framed the directive as a pro-business measure designed to “streamline compliance” rather than punish investment. By bringing these properties into the formal fold, the county also hopes to widen its tax base, a crucial step as the devolved unit faces pressure to improve service delivery in waste management and water supply.

The clock, however, is ticking. County officials warned that once the six-month window closes, the gloves will come off. Properties that fail to apply for regularization, or those that fail the structural integrity tests, will be earmarked for immediate demolition at the owner’s cost.