Omar Hussein, Secretary General of the Eastleigh Chamber of Commerce, cautioned that the president’s recent comments could muddle things up and possibly lead to some hassle for local entrepreneurs. He noted that builders have to follow Nairobi’s laws and administrative rules but worried that the new statement might spark arguments about the legality of ongoing construction projects.
“The president’s latest announcement, combined with his earlier remarks about upping building heights to 30 stories due to limited land, might ruffle some feathers among business folks. They might face harassment and be told their buildings don’t meet legal standards and must halt,” Hussein told the BBC.
The Chamber of Commerce is especially jittery since Ruto had previously lifted caps on building heights during a visit to Eastleigh just a month ago. Back then, he allowed structures to go up to 25-30 stories to cater to the housing needs of a growing community. Yet, at an anniversary event, he declared that after some talks, his administration decided to cap building heights at 12 stories to dodge security risks and the potential for planes smacking into tall buildings.
Abdirahman Dahir, head honcho of the Eastleigh Chamber of Commerce, urged home builders to stick to the law and not get swayed by the president’s statement. “We aim to double down on our commitment to these measures by encouraging all home builders to follow the plans stamped by the Nairobi City Government,” Dahir asserted at a press briefing.
These mixed messages have left housebuilders in a bind, uncertain about the fate of their projects. They now seek a sit-down with Nairobi’s local government to hammer out a solution, especially for those whose plans had already been given the green light.
W/ files from the BBC
