Nairobi residents whose homes and businesses were damaged by recent floods will be allowed to carry out repair works without paying county levies for the next 30 days.
The Nairobi City County Government has temporarily waived repair approvals and charges to allow property owners to restore their buildings following heavy rains that caused widespread destruction across the city.
The directive, issued on March 11, allows residents to immediately begin repairing damaged houses, shops and other structures without going through the usual approval process required by the county government.
City Hall said the move was meant to ease the burden on residents and businesses affected by the floods while speeding up recovery efforts.
The floods, triggered by heavy rains that began in early March, left a trail of destruction in several parts of Nairobi and across the country. Nationwide, at least 49 people lost their lives, with 29 of those deaths reported in Nairobi alone.
In a notice issued by the county government, officials said the waiver was granted in recognition of the exceptional circumstances caused by the heavy rains and flooding.
“Pursuant to the powers vested in the Office of the Governor, and in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances occasioned by the recent heavy rains and flooding across Nairobi City County, the county government hereby grants a one-month waiver on all levies and approvals ordinarily required for residents to undertake repair and maintenance works on their properties,” the directive stated.
Acting Nairobi County Secretary and Head of Public Service Godfrey Akumali said the decision was made under the authority of the Governor’s office to support families and businesses trying to recover from flood damage.
County officials explained that suspending the levies will remove bureaucratic delays that often slow down repair works. This will allow residents to urgently fix leaking roofs, cracked walls and other structural damage caused by the flooding.
City Hall also noted that the waiver will help improve safety by allowing property owners to address weakened structures that may pose risks to residents if left unrepaired.
Residents have been encouraged to take advantage of the waiver period to repair their properties while observing proper construction guidelines.
County technical teams will continue to offer guidance and oversight during the period to ensure all repair works meet required building standards, even as the levies and approvals remain temporarily suspended.
The temporary relief measure will remain in effect for 30 days from March 11, 2026, after which normal approval procedures and regulatory requirements will resume.
The decision comes as the Kenya Meteorological Department warns that several parts of the country are expected to continue receiving rainfall in the coming days.
