The Nairobi City County government is seeking to replan Westlands to limit new developments as a flurry of high-rise buildings strains infrastructure and amenities amid a surge in commercial activity that was never intended for the area.
The county has advertised a tender for a contractor to prepare a new local physical and land use development plan for the Westlands zone, which will be used as a basis to regulate new constructions in the area.
City Hall claims developments in the area have spiralled out of control, defying the original plan for Westlands.
“Originally envisioned as an upscale low to medium-rise residential district with controlled commercial activity, Westlands has undergone rapid transformation characterised by high-rise apartments, commercial towers, mixed-use complexes, and institutional developments,” City Hall said in a disclosure.
Westlands and Upper Hill have, over the years, been primarily targeted by developers for new projects, mainly Grade A office units, to complement the Nairobi Central Business District, where accessibility and supply of such units were limited.
“This growth has intensified pressure on infrastructure systems such as water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, transport networks, and social amenities, including schools, healthcare, recreational spaces, and public utilities,” City Hall said.
“Additionally, emerging development patterns have raised concerns regarding environmental protection, land use compatibility, urban form and the preservation of the unique character of neighbourhoods such as Loresho/Kyuna, Upper Spring Valley and Parklands,” it added.
Westlands area constitutes seven upmarket estates including Spring Valley, Parklands, Loresho, Kyuna, Kianda Triangle, Muthangari, and Rhapta, all of which were originally designed to be residential areas.
According to City Hall, most of the new developments in these neighbourhoods have not followed the original plan and have raised concerns about the preservation of the “unique character” of the neighbourhoods.
“The current development dynamics in Westlands highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive planning framework that balances urban growth, infrastructure capacity, environmental sustainability, and metropolitan planning objectives,” it said.
City Hall said it has prioritised the preparation of the Local Physical Development Plan for the Westlands Zone, aligned with the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (2014–2030) and other national planning frameworks.
“The plan will provide actionable local-level strategies, guide land use and infrastructure planning, and promote sustainable, resilient, and well-coordinated development across all the subzones within Westlands,” it said.
Currently, there is no proper guideline on the issuance of permits for new developments. The repeal of the Physical Planning Act rendered the 2004 zoning guidelines long relied upon to issue permits redundant.
The move comes after Nairobi residents from different neighbourhoods, including Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Karen, Westlands, and others, consistently complained of the surge in uncontrolled developments in the city.
In December, a group of residents from upmarket estates in Parklands and Lavington took developers to court, claiming the uncontrolled developments have deprived their homes of proper sunlight and ventilation.
But it was not the first case brought by residents to challenge new developments. Similar cases have been brought by several other residents’ associations, including those from Rhapta, Westlands CBD, Kyuna, and Muthangari.
“The plan will provide actionable local-level strategies, guide land use and infrastructure planning, and promote sustainable, resilient, and well-coordinated development across all the subzones within Westlands,” said City Hall.
Data shows that Nairobi City County approved building plans worth Sh149.2 billion between January and November 2025, down from Sh197.5 billion over the same period in 2024.
