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Nairobi Zoneguide PDF
Nairobi Zoneguide PDF
This pamphlet gives a simplified guide to those aspects of the development ordinances that every
property developer in this City requires in setting up any form of development – be it residential,
commercial, industrial, institutional or religious. With the continued high rate of urbanization, the
City Council of Nairobi has a duty to use planning controls to ensure that development is allowed
only where it is needed, while ensuring that the character and amenity of the area are not
adversely affected.
For a concerted approach to achieve these planning objectives, this pamphlet gives prospective
developers general planning guidelines that would hasten awareness on development control, ease
the procedures for making development applications and hence curtail inappropriate illegal
developments. It is, therefore, my humble submission that for effective planning interpretation
and compliance, both our civic leaders and professionals – who have the power and knowledge –
have to sustain this challenge by helping and involving the city residents in making this city a more
pleasant place to live in.
The summary, in tabular form from page 3, shows the zone number on the first column, followed
by the corresponding geographical area covered in the second column. A brief description or
name(s) of the covered area(s) is given in this column. For those who are not seasoned in
interpreting the contents of this column, the relevant departmental reference map number is given
in the fifth column. These maps can be accessed on request. The third and fourth columns show
the percentages of permitted Ground Coverage (GC) and Plot Ratios (PR) respectively. The sixth
column shows the type(s) of development allowed, while the general minimum zone plot size is
indicated on the seventh column. The eighth and last column gives the general policy issues for
elaboration.
For further information, accessing of departmental reference maps or any assistance on these
ordinances, feel free to contact:
2
ZONE
Dept MIN.
AREAS COVERED GC PR TYPE (S) OF DEVELOPMENT
% %
Ref. AREA REMARKS/POLICY ISSUES
ALLOWED (Ha.)
Map
Central Business District (CBD)
Core CBD 80 600
CP/FP/XXX
Peri-CBD 80 500
Commercial/Residential/Light
1A West of Tom Mboya St 60 600 0.05
Industry
East Of Tom Mboya St 80 350
Uhuru H/W/ University 80 500
Way/Kipande Rd
Upper Hill Area
Block 1 - Offices (Community) 60 300
Block 2 - Comm/Off
CP/FP/XXX
60 250
1E Block 3 - Offices 60 300 Commercial/Offices/ Residential 0.05
Block 4 - Residential 35 150
Block 5 - Institutional (KNH)
Block 6 - (Mixed: Inst;Htls;Offs) 60 200
Eastleigh Commercial/Residential (High-rise
CP/FP/X
Eastleigh District Centre
XX
80 250 Flats) 0.05
Eastleigh Comm/Residential 60 240
2 Pumwani/Califarnia 60 240
CP/FP/XXX
3
ZONE
Dept TYPE (S) OF MIN.
AREAS COVERED GC PR REMARKS/POLICY
% %
Ref. DEVELOPMENT AREA
ISSUES
Map ALLOWED (Ha.)
Parklands
Commercial
CP/FP/XXX
50 100 Commercial/Residential (High-
Residential 35 75 rise Flats) 0.05
City Park Estate /Upper Parklands 35 75
Westlands
Westlands CBD 80 240
3
Westlands/Museum Hill
CP/FP/XXX
o Block 1 Commercial 80 200 Commercial/Offices/Residential
o Block 2&3 Offices & Highrise (High Rise Flats) – Four Storeys 0.05
35 80
Residential Max.
o Block 4 Offices 80 200
o Block 5 Commercial/Residential
Hotels
Spring Valley
Riverside Drive Residential (Apartments
CP/FP/XXX
Kileleshwa 35(s) 75(s) allowed on sewer only) – Four
4 25(u) 25(u) 0.05 Policy Under Review
Kilimani Storeys Max.
Thompson
Woodley
Upper Spring Valley
Kyuna 25 25
CP/FP/XXX
4
ZONE
Dept MIN.
AREAS COVERED Ref. TYPE (S) OF DEVELOPMENT REMARKS/POLICY
GC PR AREA
Map ALLOWED ISSUES
(Ha.)
Mathare Valley
CP/FP/XXX
Mathare North 0.05 Special Scheduled High-
7 Lower Huruma 50 75 High-Density Residential (Flats) Lower in
S&S
Density Informal
Kariobangi Informal Settlements (Slums) Schemes Development
Korogocho Dandora
Old Eastlands
Shauri Moyo
Maringo
Bahati These largely constitute old
CP/FP/XXX
Special Scheduled Areas
Kaloleni City Council housing – ripe for
o NCC Site-and-service
high-rise high density
Makongeni redevelopment
o Schemes as Low-
Mbotela Income Housing
Jericho
Jerusalem
Makadara 50 100
8 Doonholm Neighbourhood (Block 82) 50 75
Uhuru (1-3) 50 75
Buru Buru (1-6) (Blocks 72-79) 50 75 Residential –
Umoja (1-2) 50 75 Mixed Development
Comprehensive
CP/FP/XXX
5
Dept MIN.
ZONE
AREAS COVERED TYPE (S) OF DEVELOPMENT
GC PR Ref. AREA REMARKS/POLICY ISSUES
ALLOWED
Map (Ha.)
9 Main Industrial Area 80 300
CP/FP/XX
Industries/Godowns 0.05(on Becoming Over Developed
X sewer)
80 (s) 150(s) CP/FP/XX
Dandora Industrial Zone 50(u) 100(u)
Kariobangi Lt/Industrial 50(u) 100(u) CP/FP/XX 0.01 if
9E Light Industries/Godowns not on Ruaraka EPZ covered
Mathare North Lt/Industrial 50(u)
100(u) CP/FP/XX
sewer
80 (s) 150(s)
Kariobangi Lt/Industrial 50(u) 100(u)
CP/FP/XX
Nairobi West
35 75 CP/FP/XX
Madaraka
South ‘B’
35 75 CP/FP/XX
South ‘C’
Nairobi Dam 50 75 CP/FP/XX
Ngummo
High Density Residential Comprehensive subdivision
Highview 50 75 CP/FP/XX Development allowed with lower sizes on
Magiwa
Mixed Residential Development 0.5 type plan
10 Golf Course
Flats, Development density @ 35
Langata Estates
Maisonettes units per hectare
Southlands
Bungalows
Otiende
CP/FP/XXX
Ngei 1&2
Onyonka 50 75
Masai
Uhuru Gardens
Jonathan Ngeno
Villa Franca 50 (s) 75 (s) CP/FP/XX
25(u) 25(u)
Imara Daima
CP/FP/XXX
Commercial
XX
80 150
Residential 50 75
6
ZONE
Dept MIN.
AREAS COVERED TYPE (S) OF DEVELOPMENT
GC PR Ref. AREA REMARKS/POLICY ISSUES
ALLOWED
Map (Ha.)
Special Scheduled Area (Kibera
Slums)
CP/FP/XX
NHC Plan Lacking In Social
National Housing Corporation Informal Mixed Developments Infrastructures e.g. Schools
(NHC) Estates Comprehensive Residential Clinics, Recreation and
CP/FP/XXX
11 Schemes 0.05 Commercial Zones
Ayany
Comprehensive subdivision
Olympic 50 75 allowed with lower sizes on
Fort Jesus type plan
Karanja Road
Karen/ Langata Low Density Residential Local Re-Development Plan
CP/FP/X
0.2
XX
12 Karen Developments Under Review/Preparation
0.4
(One Family Dwelling House)
Gigiri 25 25 CP/FP/XX Low-Density Residential Plan well implemented only
Kitisuru 25 25 CP/FP/XX (One Family Dwelling House) pockets of intensity of
13 Ridgeways 25 25 CP/FP/XX 0.2 developments e.g. Village
Garden Estate 25 25 CP/FP/XX Market & American Diplomatic
Safari Park/Balozi Housing 25 25 CP/FP/XX Housing
Roysambu 25 25 CP/FP/XX Low-Density Residential
(One Family Dwelling House) Intensive Development in
14 Thome 25 25 CP/FP/XX 0.2
Marurui & Roysambu
Marurui 25 25 CP/FP/XX
Dagoretti 35 75 CP/FP/XX Agricultural/Residential Mixed
Riruta 35 75 CP/FP/XX Gap Flats
Maisonettes Area Maintains Agricultural
Kangemi 35 75 CP/FP/XX 0.1
Bungalows 0.05 on Character
15 Mutuini 35 75 CP/FP/XX
township High-rise Flats develop
Waithaka 35 75 CP/FP/XX sewer becoming popular
Ruthimitu 35 75 CP/FP/XX
Uthiru 35 75 CP/FP/XX
7
ZONE Dept TYPE (S) OF MIN.
AREAS COVERED GC PR Ref. REMARKS/POLICY
% %
DEVELOPMENT AREA
Map ISSUES
ALLOWED (Ha.)
Baba Dogo
Industrial Zone
Industrial
CP/FP/XXX
80(s) 300(s) 0.05 High Density
50(u) 100(u) Residential (Mixed
16 lower if Residential
Residential 35(s) 75s) Residential
comprehensive
25(s) 25(u)
Development
Ngumba/Ruaraka/ 50(s) 200(s)
Githurai 44 &45 Replete with
50(s) 200(s)
Zimmerman Industrial Zone unplanned
Kahawa West 50 100 Residential (Mixed developments hence
17 Commercial 50 100 Residential “Blanket approval”
Residential 50 75 Development vide TP resolution of
Industrial 50 100 18/7/97
Kasarani 2.0 Area has potential for
Clayworks Agricultural
CP/FP/XXX
0.05 on sewer residential developments
Clay City Residential Mixed
50 100 0.1 ha. if not (invasion by land buying
Sports View Development companies and land
on sewer
18
Mwiki 50 200 lower min. speculators)
Njiru size if land
Ruai 25 25 CP/FP/XX buying Industrial not attractive
company here
Special Scheduled Area Outside Nairobi Area fully influenced
Boundary by city dynamics
CP/FP/XXX
8
Dept TYPE (S) OF MIN.
ZONE
AREAS COVERED GC PR Ref. REMARKS/POLICY
% %
DEVELOPMENT AREA
Map ISSUES
ALLOWED (Ha.)
Public/Strategic Reserved Areas (Gazetted)
State House
JKIA Airport
Wilson Airport
CP/FP/XXX
Military Sites Special/strategic
Boundaries require to be
20 o Military Airbase Eastleigh facilities and
clearly defined
o DoD Headqaters Developments
o Kahawa Barracks
o Langata Barracks
o Defence College, Karen
o Forces Memorial Hospital
Recreational And Forests
City Park
Arboretum
Ngong Forest
Karura Forest
National Game Park Public Open Spaces,
20g Stadiums CP/FP/XX Reserves and
Moi Sports Complex, Kasarani Recreational Facilities
City Stadium
Nyayo Stadium
Uhuru Park
Central Park
Uhuru Gardens