The Nairobi county government yesterday kicked off a major crackdown on building owners who failed to repaint their properties as stipulated in law.
Over ten people have already been arrested and charged in court.
They were charged in a Nairobi court for contravening the Public Health Cap 242 and County By-Laws that requires them to repaint their buildings after every two years.
Those arrested and charged include Jane Asena, the caretaker of Karachi House and Charles Ndung’u Mwangi, a director of one of the buildings along Latema/Lagos Road, Ann Nana Matei among others.
Some of the houses in question include Loise house on Latema road, Jiame house along Haille Selasie, Karachi house (river road), Leon house (Tom Mboya), Construst house(Moi Avenue),Ambassador house(Moi Avenue), Commercial House at Cross road among other buildings.
More people are set to be charged for a similar offence at the City court.
Acting County Secretary Leboo Morintat said those being targeted for arrests are the owners of buildings, caretakers and the users of the buildings.
“We believe that they all read our notice which we published in the local dailies and that is why we are going for them,” Morintat said.
He said the County will shut down premises that have not been repainted and those involved will be charged.
County health and Inspectorate officers have been on the ground from Wednesday morning inspecting buildings to see whether the owners have complied with Governor Mike Sonko’s directive.
The directive was issued three months ago.
The property owners were also given a blanket approval to improve all their plot frontages with concrete blocks.