County targets Lang’ata Road in fresh crackdown on illegal billboards

Nairobi City County has intensified its enforcement campaign against illegal outdoor advertising, shifting focus to Lang’ata Road in Lang’ata Sub-County.

Some rogue advertisers have been accused of using criminal gangs to obstruct county officers during operations.

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The renewed push forms part of the ongoing Operation Remove Illegal Billboards, aimed at restoring order, safety and visual discipline across the capital.

The operation is being driven by the Department of Built Environment and Urban Planning under the leadership of CECM Patrick Mbogo, working alongside Urban Development and Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo Akivaga and Assistant Director for Advertising Dan Nasengo.

The team has vowed zero tolerance for firms that flout planning laws or intimidate enforcement officers.

The Lang’ata operation builds on gains made earlier this month along Redhill Road, where illegal billboards were dismantled for violating the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (PLUPA) 2019.

Analo warned that companies attempting to reinstall removed structures, or those using goons to derail enforcement, will face prosecution and the removal of up to five times more billboards as punitive action.

“This enforcement will not stop. Any advertiser who thinks they can beat the system through intimidation or illegal installations will face stiffer penalties,” Analo said, adding that fines of up to Sh2 million apply to firms erecting unapproved structures.

The December crackdown follows a massive November operation that saw 275 illegal billboards removed citywide, far exceeding initial targets. Key corridors cleared during that phase included Lang’ata Road, Mombasa Road, Eastern Bypass,

James Gichuru Road, Cotton Road, Ole Nguruone Street and several major roundabouts. Particularly sensitive areas such as the Eastern Bypass — a gateway to Nairobi and route to JKIA and key security installations — were prioritised to ensure compliance and public safety.

County authorities say enforcement will now be more aggressive, with Lang’ata Road identified as a hotspot due to rampant non-compliance and interference with officers.

The county is working jointly with KURA and KeNHA to enhance surveillance and ensure consistent standards across both county and national roads.

“This is part of Governor Sakaja Johnson’s commitment to deliver a city of order, safety and dignity,” Analo said, noting that visual pollution and illegal structures undermine urban planning and revenue collection.

City Hall has urged residents to support the crackdown by reporting suspicious or unapproved billboards through Sub-County offices or the Toll-Free Number 1508, as the county moves to achieve full compliance across Nairobi.