Residents along Donyo Lane and Peponi Road in Nairobi’s Westlands area live in growing fear as years-old demolition orders and enforcement notices against illegal developments remain largely unenforced, raising alarms over public safety amid recurring building collapses across the city.
The upscale stretch near Karura Forest has seen rapid high-rise construction, often allegedly disregarding zoning laws, environmental regulations and riparian setbacks. Stop-work notices and demolition orders were reportedly issued months — in some cases years — ago by Nairobi City County and the National Construction Authority, yet many projects have continued, critics say, highlighting a pattern of regulatory delay.
Escalation on Peponi Road
The situation escalated in December 2025 when a 13-storey residential building under construction by Donyo Hill Residences Limited along Peponi Road developed visible cracks in pillars and walls. The National Construction Authority immediately suspended works and formed a multi-agency committee — including experts from the Engineers Board of Kenya, National Environment Management Authority, Nairobi City County and others — to determine if the structure could be salvaged or required controlled demolition. Nearby residents were temporarily evacuated as a precaution.
Pattern of impunity
This incident reflects wider concerns. Developers appear to proceed with confidence that enforcement will be delayed or overlooked. Similar issues persist in nearby Parklands, where high-rises emerge despite complaints of blocked access roads, overstretched sewer systems and violated building codes. Residents associations have secured court orders to halt unauthorised works and prompt county reviews of planning approvals.
Environmental and structural risks
Environmental dangers add to structural risks. Some developments encroach close to riverbanks, discharging untreated waste and destabilising soil — factors experts associate with heightened collapse risks during heavy rains. Downstream communities report poorer water quality, more waterborne illnesses and loss of aquatic life due to upstream violations.
Lessons from recent tragedies
Nairobi’s recent tragedies underscore the stakes. A multi-storey building collapsed in South C on 2 January 2026, trapping workers under rubble after prior enforcement notices in May, July and December 2025 were reportedly ignored. Such incidents expose systemic gaps: repeated warnings disregarded, approvals granted without full compliance checks, and delayed action until disaster strikes.
Urban planners and environmental advocates criticise selective enforcement as a direct threat to lives. They call on the Rivers Commission, National Environment Management Authority and Nairobi City County to act decisively: demolish illegal riparian encroachments, enforce environmental impact assessments rigorously, and break the cycle of impunity.
As Nairobi’s population grows and construction accelerates, critics argue that delays in enforcing demolition orders are not mere administrative lapses — they endanger public safety. Without urgent, consistent intervention on Donyo Lane–Peponi Road and elsewhere, residents fear another deadly incident in this once-quiet part of the capital.
