The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has recorded a decrease in revenue of Ksh55 Million from permit fees for buildings in the city.
According to a report Status of the Built Environment Report released by the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) on February 2, the decline in revenue was recorded between July and December 2020.
"The total permitting fees collected by the NMS in the first half was Ksh 215,942,168 which was a 20.3 percent decline from the Ksh 270,959,678 recorded in the first half of 2020 presumably due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw a decline of activities in the built environment sector," the report by AAK disclosed.
The Association further revealed that the agency had in the period received 970 building applications, 664 planning applications, and 866 renovation works applications with an estimated cost of development of Ksh50 Billion.
Private developers accounted for the majority of those seeking permits with 2,116 applications, NGO, church, social organisations had 85 applications, Parastatals/ government agencies (33), county governments (31), and the national government (21).
A huge number of projects ranged between Ksh5 Million and Ksh50 Million while those between Ksh50 Million and Ksh 500 Million were 23 percent of the projects.
NMS led by Director General Mohammed Badi took over County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services and the County Government Planning and Development functions from City Hall in February 2020.
In 2020, NMS constituted a new multi-sectoral urban planning technical committee to handle building plans and approvals in Nairobi County.
In a public notice issued on July 6, 2020, NMS Boss Badi noted that all planning approvals would be handled from the Director General’s office.
"For the avoidance of any doubt, all planning/development complaints, applications, occupation, renovation permits and hard copy prints of approved drawings are to be submitted to the second floor, amphitheater wing of KICC," Badi noted.
Months later, the agency restored the Quick Response (QR) coding system which made it easier for Nairobi property developers to have their development plans approved virtually.
According to the NMS General, the QR system eliminates the need for stamping the plans, which required the applicants to present them physically.
