Mombasa County Moves to Stamp Out Unauthorised Building Developments

Mombasa County has set its sights on property developers who are flouting planning regulations, launching a sweeping county-wide enforcement operation targeting construction projects that fail to meet legally required approvals and conditions. The move signals the county's growing impatience with rogue developers who push ahead with construction without fully adhering to the rules.

The Department of Lands, Urban Planning, Housing and Serikali Mtaani is driving the crackdown, with county authorities citing three clear goals: upholding planning laws, safeguarding the safety of the public, and ensuring that Mombasa's rapid urban growth unfolds in an orderly and regulated fashion rather than in the chaotic manner that has increasingly become a concern.

County Executive Committee Member Mohamed Hussein raised the alarm over a significant increase in ongoing construction projects across the county that are failing to meet the conditions attached to their planning approvals. He cautioned that non-compliant developments create both safety and environmental risks that ultimately affect ordinary residents. Hussein made clear that the county would not shy away from pursuing legal action against any developer found to be in violation of the law.

The enforcement operation is backed by a firm legal foundation. Authorities are drawing on three key pieces of Kenyan law: the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the County Governments Act 2012, and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act 2019. These statutes collectively grant county governments the regulatory authority to supervise and control development activities within their jurisdictions, giving Mombasa County the power to act decisively against offenders.

Hussein used the occasion to put all developers on notice, instructing them to verify that they are in possession of the necessary planning approvals before proceeding with any construction. Beyond merely having approvals in hand, developers must also demonstrate full compliance with every condition attached to those approvals and all applicable statutory requirements. Those who fail to meet this standard, the CECM warned, should expect enforcement action from the county.

Mombasa County stressed that its long-term vision is to create a built environment that is safe, sustainable, and properly planned for the benefit of all its residents. The enforcement operation took effect immediately upon announcement and extends across every area within the county, with officials making clear that there will be no safe harbour for developers who continue to defy planning regulations.