Nairobi’s ongoing assault on unlawful outdoor advertising gained fresh momentum this week after County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment & Urban Planning Patrick Mbogo and Urban Development and Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo Akivaga confirmed that 21 more illegal billboards have been removed along Redhill Road, marking the latest phase of Operation Remove Illegal Billboards.
These structures, Analo said, had been erected in violation of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (PLUPA) 2019, and their removal forms part of a citywide enforcement drive that is set to intensify throughout December.
“We are not relenting, Some companies have even attempted to reinstall the same illegal structures, and they will not only face prosecution but also the removal of five times more of their billboards as punitive action.” Analo declared.
He added that companies deploying goons to obstruct county officers or undermine enforcement operations have been put on notice, warning that such tactics would trigger additional legal consequences including removal of more folds of their structures.
The renewed Redhill operation follows the major November sweep in which 275 illegal billboards were removed across Nairobi, far surpassing the earlier target of 100. That expansive crackdown covered key corridors including the Eastern Bypass, James Gichuru Road, Cotton Road, Ole Nguruone Street, Mombasa Road, Lang’ata Road, and several roundabouts.
In the Eastern Bypass one of the most sensitive gateways into the capital the county cleared all illegal billboards mounted on street lighting poles.
Analo at the time emphasized the strategic importance of that corridor, which passes GSP and Administration Police training institutions as well as the route to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, noting that “visual order and compliance are essential.”
“We cannot allow companies to clutter major entry corridors with unapproved structures, Any firm erecting illegal billboards risks fines of up to Sh2 million, in addition to removal penalties.”he said.
The county has reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-agency approach, working with KURA and KeNHA to strengthen surveillance and ensure uniform compliance across national and county roads.
Analo noted that the December phase will be more aggressive, aiming to dismantle every remaining illegal billboard and pursue firms that deliberately bypass approvals or fail to meet advertising fee obligations.
“This is part of the Governor’s commitment to deliver a city of order for all Nairobians,” Analo reiterated.
City Hall is urging the public to support the effort by reporting suspicious or unapproved billboards through Sub-County offices or the Toll-Free Number 1508.
With December’s operations now underway and additional hotspots scheduled for inspection, the county says the cleanup will continue “until full compliance is achieved across the city.”
The crackdown aligns with Governor Sakaja Johnson’s agenda to restore order, safeguard public spaces, and ensure aesthetic consistency across Nairobi.
