Shauri Kwa Uaminifu

A guide Of Nairobi City

Development Ordinances And Zones

DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING

“In Pursuit of Excellence in Local Planning”
Foreword by Director of City Planning
The planning system plays an important role in modern society. It is meant to protect amenity and
the environment in the public interest. How we live our lives is shaped by where we live. Our
planning regulations therefore have to cover many different situations that influence the shape of
lives of every city resident and help protect the urban environment.

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.

P. S. Adolwa
1
Overview
The information contained here is based on what the City Planning Department is already doing
to control development in the entire city and is open to challenges to do it better. To improve on
outcomes, development control will only be effective if all stakeholders work closely together.
Towards this direction, this pamphlet is a summary of planning ordinances to be shared with
interested stakeholders to ensure that development control, and indeed the wider planning agenda
is being implemented effectively across the city.

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:

Assistant Director Assistant Director

Forward Planning Section OR Development Control Section
City Hall 2nd Floor Room No. 9 City Hall Annexe, 1st Floor

2
 Dept MIN.
ZONE

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)
Eastleigh CP/FP/X Commercial/Residential (High-rise
• Eastleigh District Centre
XX

80 250 Flats) 0.05

• Eastleigh Comm/Residential 60 240
2 Pumwani/Califarnia 60 240
CP/FP/XXX

Ziwani/ Starehe Commercial/Residential (High-rise

0.05
• Commercial 80 150 Flats)
• Residential 35 75

3
 Dept TYPE (S) OF MIN.
ZONE

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
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
Kilimani Storeys Max.
Thompson
Woodley
Upper Spring Valley
Kyuna 25 25
•
CP/FP/XXX

0.2(u) Maisonettes Allowed On

Loresho Low-Density Residential One-
5 0.1(S) Sewered Areas Of
Lavington /Bernard Estate Family House
Lavington
o On sewer 35 75
o Unserwerd 25 25
Muthaiga CP/FP/XX
6 25 25 X Low-Density Residential 0.2 Single Family Dwelling
New Muthaiga

4
 Dept MIN.
ZONE

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

Umoja Innercore 50 150 o Flats,

Subdivision allowed
Komarock o Maisonettes, 0.05
• Minimum to fit a House
• Commercial 80 150 o Bungalows,
on Type Plan design
o Site-and-service Schemes
• Residential 50 75
Condominiums (Single Rooms)
Kayole
• Commercial 80 150
• Residential 50 75

5
ZONE Dept MIN.
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

Tassia • Area not fully sewered

50 75 • Comprehensive subdivision
10E Fedha Residential Mixed Development 0.5
Avenue allowed with lower sizes on
Embakasi Village type plan (max 35 units/ha.)
CP/FP/X

• Commercial
XX

80 150
• Residential 50 75

6
 Dept MIN.
ZONE

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
Intensive Development in
14 Thome 25 25 CP/FP/XX (One Family Dwelling House) 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
 Dept TYPE (S) OF MIN.
ZONE

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
buying Industrial not attractive
• Ruai 25 25 CP/FP/XX
company here
Special Scheduled Area Outside Nairobi • Area fully influenced
Boundary by city dynamics
•
CP/FP/XXX

• Githurai Kimbo Agricultural NCC not in control of

19 Residential (Mixed development
• Wendani
Development) • Overwhelmingly
• Kahawa Sukari dependant on
services of the city

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