High Court Suspends Controversial Lang’ata Housing Project

The Environment and Land Court has suspended construction of the Southlands Affordable Housing Project in Lang’ata, Nairobi, ruling that the government failed to meet legal requirements on public participation and environmental protection.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, 29 May, a three-judge bench ordered an immediate halt to the project, which was expected to provide more than 15,000 housing units. The court found that the government had moved ahead without meaningful consultation with residents and quashed a licence issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). 

The judges ruled that the environmental impact assessment was inadequate and did not properly address concerns raised by the community. The court also directed that no further approvals should be issued until a full environmental and social impact assessment is completed and fresh authorisations are obtained from all relevant agencies.

The petition was led by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who argued that the project had been launched on public land without proper consultation and posed risks to both the environment and local residents. He raised concerns about pressure on sewer systems, insufficient water supply, and the impact of 17-storey apartment blocks overlooking existing maisonette homes. 

Omtatah also said the arrival of thousands of new residents could lower property values and worsen traffic congestion in Lang’ata. The case was supported by activists from the Lang’ata Reject AHP Committee, who argued that the land identified for the development had originally been reserved for transport corridors and environmental buffer zones. They said the project ignored constitutional protections and the rights of residents already living in the area.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga defended the project and said the government had complied with all legal requirements. He pointed to household surveys, public barazas and interviews with key stakeholders as evidence of public participation. Hinga also said the development included measures to improve drainage, manage traffic and upgrade infrastructure in partnership with Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and Kenya Power.

He rejected claims that the project would cause environmental damage, invade residents’ privacy or reduce property values. Hinga maintained that the land had been legally allocated for affordable housing and slum upgrading.

The Lang’ata development was launched in March 2025 as part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Affordable Housing Programme. In addition to housing units, the project was expected to include a primary school and create employment opportunities while helping to address the country’s housing shortage.