Kajiado County has launched a major crackdown on illegal developments, demolishing structures and businesses erected along road reserves in a bid to enhance public safety and restore order in its municipalities, towns and market centres.
County enforcement officers, working alongside security agencies, moved in to clear the encroachments in Isinya town, noting that the affected structures had been put up without approval and posed a risk to road users.
County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development and Municipalities, Hamilton Parseina, said the exercise targets illegal buildings that obstruct road expansion, drainage systems and public access.
He noted that such developments have contributed to traffic congestion and safety concerns in fast-growing urban centres.
“We are making good progress in our endeavour to restore order and sanity in our towns. Kitengela has set a good precedent. It is, however, work in progress. We are now in Isinya and it will be followed by Kajiado and Kiserian. We will cover all our urban areas in due course,” said Parseina.
However, traders and business owners affected by the demolition decried the move, saying they were not notified in advance. They called on the county government to provide alternative spaces to cushion them from losses.
The county government maintained that notices had been issued earlier and urged residents to adhere to zoning regulations and avoid putting up structures on public spaces.
Kajiado has in recent years experienced rapid urbanisation, leading to increased cases of encroachment on road reserves and other public utilities.
The crackdown aligns with Governor Joseph Ole Lenku’s agenda of creating liveable towns under the county’s development vision, which seeks to improve amenities and infrastructure to make rapidly growing urban centres more habitable and comfortable.
According to a public notice issued by the county on March 6, 2026, the enforcement targets kiosks; stalls; signage; building projections; the sale of building materials along road reserves; and both temporary and permanent structures erected within these areas.
Trading activities obstructing the free flow of traffic and pedestrians are also affected.
The county government noted that towns are key engines of economic development, underscoring the need to improve access to water, good roads, proper waste management and street lighting to support a 24-hour economy.
By Diana Meneto
