NEMA Issues Notice on Ruto’s Planned 7,000-Unit Nairobi Housing Project

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has invited members of the public to submit comments on environmental assessment reports for President William Ruto’s planned affordable housing project in Southlands, Lang’ata, Nairobi, which is expected to deliver a total of 7,128 housing units.

In notices published in the Kenya Gazette on October 23, 2026, NEMA called for public input on five Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports covering the proposed developments in Mugumo-ini Ward. The State Department for Housing and Urban Development is listed as the project proponent.

The project will be implemented in five lots, with four comprising 1,386 housing units each and the fifth containing 1,584 units. The planned development will include studio apartments, one-room, two-room and three-room social housing units, as well as affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

Other planned facilities include access roads, water supply and storage systems, shopping stalls, children’s playgrounds, parking spaces and other supporting amenities.

The latest notice follows legal challenges that halted construction over concerns about environmental compliance and inadequate public participation. In May 2026, the Environment and Land Court quashed the environmental licence previously issued for the project and barred further construction pending compliance with the relevant legal requirements.

NEMA has invited residents and other interested parties to submit written or oral comments on the assessment reports within 30 days of the Gazette publication. The reports identify potential environmental and social impacts, including dust, noise, vibrations and increased traffic, while outlining measures to protect affected residents and vulnerable groups.

The authority’s review is intended to gather public views as the project undergoes the required environmental assessment process.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7g2Chfb6/