Lands, Housing, Physical Planning, Municipal Administration & Urban Development

Heads Of Department

Eunice Macharia

CEC - LANDS, HOUSING, PHYSICAL PLANNING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Edmund Njihia Njoroge

CO - LANDS, HOUSING, PHYSICAL PLANNING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Heads Of Directorates

Hannah Maranga
DIRECTOR – PHYSICAL PLANNING

Isaac Gitau
Ag. DIRECTOR – LAND SURVEY & GEO-INFORMATICS

Julius Mwololo
DIRECTOR – HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

VISION
Our vision is to ensure well planned and managed land resource for sustainable development

MISSION
Our mission is to promote an integrated framework in spatial planning and infrastructure development for social, economic and environmental well-being of Kiambu County

MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The mandate of the department is as follows:

To provide spatial planning strategies for promoting sustainable rural and urban management and development;
Formulation, implementation and review of various policy in the Department
To develop a Geographic Information System and Land Information System database for spatial data management
To provide efficient land and property management for effective county land documentation and land taxation;
To promote and facilitate the development of decent housing in sustainable environments; and
To achieve timely delivery of planning decisions on private sector and community development initiatives.

ECDE

An ECDE Bill has been drafted and presented to the CA.

However, the directorate has continued to use the policies being used at the national government level.

ICT

A draft ICT policy has been developed and presented to management for advice. The draft policy has been done to suit the needs for the county.

In the meantime, the directorate is guided by the policies being used at the national level.

Projects

Kiambu County spatial plan 2015-2025: The Kiambu County Spatial Plan provides a broad framework of Kiambu County’s ten year (2015-2025) physical development Plan. It is a strategic document that outlines a vision for Kiambu County as aligned to Kenya Vision 2030, Nairobi Metro 2030 and the Kiambu County Government’s Integrated Development Plan. The spatial plan addresses the current challenges and the directions that will be followed through short, medium and long-term development programmes to achieve the vision
Slum upgrading programme: The department is collaborating with Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) in a programme funded by the World Bank on Tenure regularization in informal settlements within Kiambu County. The project involves

The department of LHPP is also providing technical support to an on-going project on mapping informal settlements, being implemented through the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP) in Shauri Yako slum, Kikuyu sub-county
Urban Renewal Programme: The urban renewal programme aims at revitalizing and giving a face-lift to urban areas within the County exhibiting a state of dilapidation and decay. As a pilot, the department is implementing the urban renewal programme within some of its residential Estates in Thika town; they are Jamuhuri, Ofafa and Starehe Estates within Thika sub-county. The programme will thereafter be rolled out to other parts of the County. It is envisaged that the programme will enable redevelopment of ‘old’ neighbourhoods within Kiambu’s urban areas into modern and more efficient development and promote private sector investment in the housing sector.
Intergrated strategic urban development plans: Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plans (ISUDPs) are prepared in order to provide the overall spatial framework for future growth and development of urban area, and to provide the basis for coordinated programming of projects. Through funding from the World Bank, and in collaboration with theUrban Development Department (UDD) and Nairobi Metropolitan (NAMSIP); departments within the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, ISUDPs for various towns in Kiambu County are being prepared, as well as planning for the Nairobi-Thika transport corridor.
Survey and GEO Informatics: Under the directorate of Survey and Geo-informatics, mapping and surveying of public land is being undertaken; with the successful mapping of sub-county headquarters and wards, health facilities, stadia, youth polytechnics and public utility plots.
Review of the draft valuation roll: The valuation roll is the legal document consisting of all details of rateable properties within an area. It assigns values to all properties with the purpose of generating revenue to the authority under whose jurisdiction the property is located

Guiding Policies

Planning in Kenya operates within a legal framework in terms with Section 66 of the Constitution. By making careful analysis of all the design issues, the following legislations are key in providing further guidance towards better development proposals:

Physical Planning Act
Subsidiary Legislation like County Policy Guidelines
Land subdivision submission procedures, standards and guidelines

The Physical Planning Act Subsidiary Legislation can be found in the following legislation:

Physical Planning (Building and Development) (Control) Rules, 1998
Physical Planning (Subdivision) Regulations, 1998
The Local Government (Adoptive By-Laws) (Building) Order 1968 (The Building Code) (New Edition 1997)

The County Government of Kiambu has the statutory obligation to prepare and implement county plans (pursuant to Part XI of County Government Act) and policies to ensure a well-balanced and productive use of land and other resources. These include:

Kiambu County Spatial Plan
Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plans (ISUDPS)

Each policy document contains requirements in the form of guidelines and/or objectives. These are geared to minimize adverse impacts and maximize positive benefits for the community. On the other hand, the site of your development proposal has inherent constraints and opportunities.

The County Government of Kiambu encourages applicants to consider using a suitable design professional such as architect (for building plans), physical planner (for change of use, subdivisions, extension of lease, outdoor advertisement etc.), engineer (for structural and civil engineering drawings). It is therefore advisable that registered professionals with valid practicing certificates are involved failure to which submission certificate will not be issued

As much as there are many details to consider there are five super important basics to consider. These are:

Lighting
Ventilation
Safety
Privacy
Convenience

Kindly click on the link below to download Kiambu County’s planning approval process.

Download

Approval Process

Please click on the following to view the different levels of the development plans approval process.

STAGE 1: Reception and registration (Sub?county Level)

STAGE 2: Development proposal circulation (A) (Sub?county Level)

STAGE 3: Development proposal circulation (B) (Sub?county Level)

STAGE 4: Development proposal approval (Headquarters Level)

Kindly click on the link below to download answers to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about the approval process.

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Investment

Introduction

The services sector has grown tremendously in the recent past due to changing technologies and consumer needs. As a result, the Government of Kiambu County has identified the sector as a priority area for development of the county’s economy. Currently, there are major banks and microfinance institutions which are concentrated in the major urban areas giving opportunities in other setups.

Investment Opportunities

Urban renewal programme

The towns and urban areas within Kiambu County are characterized by sections of the Central Business District having dilapidated low rise buildings. With a growing population rate of 2.81 percent and urbanization rate of 3.4 percent, it is projected that Kiambu’s proportion of the urban population will continue growing. The County government is therefore undertaking an urban renewal programme.

As a way of leading by example, the county is implementing an urban renewal programme of the county estates which are located on prime land within the town yet have low density developments, which are dilapidated.

The department is also developing an urban renewal plan for Kiambu County, which will identify and provide guidelines on the types of modern developments to be put up. There is therefore an opportunity for investors willing to put up massive developments, to match international benchmarks in terms of sustainability and economic viability.

Innovative and appropriate building technology

The county government of Kiambu embraces the use of innovative building approaches. This creates an opportunity for investors to provide innovative building solutions in order to promote sustainable development.

Strategic Directions

To prepare an integrated spatial framework to guide spatial development in the county through preparation of the county spatial plan and integrated strategic urban development plans.
Provision of adequate housing
1. Adequate housing within the county to be promoted through implementation of various strategic programmes. They include the urban renewal programme, slum upgrading initiatives, promoting the use of appropriate building technology and pre-approved building plans for typical residential developments.
Promote/enhance revenue generation capacity
1. Revenue generation to be enhanced through rating or taxation of land within the County
Update the real estate asset register in order to establish the value of county landed assets