The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has invited public comments on environmental assessment reports for a proposed 7,128-unit affordable and social housing project in Southlands, Lang'ata, months after the High Court halted construction over concerns about environmental compliance and public participation.
Notices published in the Kenya Gazette on October 23 invite members of the public to submit comments on five Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports for developments planned in Mugumo-ini Ward.
According to the notice, the project is divided into five lots, with four planned to contain 1,386 units each and the other lot comprising 1,584 units.
The project includes a studio, one- to three-bedroom social and affordable housing units, access roads, water supply and storage systems, shopping stalls, outdoor children's play areas, parking spaces, and other associated amenities and facilities.
President William Ruto during the handover ceremony of 1,080 completed homes at the Mukuru Meteorological Site in Nairobi County
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"PURSUANT to section 59 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the proposed project above. The proponent, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, proposes to construct fourteen (14) multi-storey residential blocks comprising ground plus 8 upper floors with a total of 1386 affordable and social housing units (one-roomed, two-roomed, three-roomed social housing units and studio, two-bedroom, three-bedroom affordable housing units) including internal access roads, water supply and storage systems, shopping stalls, outdoor children's play areas, parking spaces and other associated amenities and facilities in Mugumo-ini ward, Langata Constituency, Nairobi City County," read one of the notices.
The latest notices mark a fresh stage in the environmental assessment process for a project that has faced legal challenges over whether the required environmental safeguards and public consultations were completed before construction began.
The move followed court rulings that barred construction of the Southlands Affordable Housing project until the government complied with legal and environmental requirements.
In May 2026, the Environment and Land Court quashed the NEMA environmental license issued on December 16, 2025, barring further construction until the government complies with environmental assessment, public participation, and other legal approval requirements.
The bench further noted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process was flawed and failed to address residents' concerns about the project's potential environmental impacts.
According to the environmental assessment report contained in the gazette notices, the scale of the proposed development raises environmental and social considerations, including construction-related dust, noise, vibration, and traffic, as well as potential effects on people living near the project site.
Measures outlined in the reports include verifying the register of affected people, providing agreed support before clearance, maintaining engagement with affected residents and establishing channels through which grievances can be raised.
The reports also call for particular attention to vulnerable groups, including older people, children, persons with disabilities and women-headed households.
NEMA has invited members of the public to submit oral or written comments on the five environmental assessment reports within 30 days of the October 23, 2026, Gazette publication.
The reports are available for inspection at NEMA's offices on Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, Nairobi, and at the Nairobi City County Director of Environment's office.
Written submissions can be sent to the Director-General at dgnema@nema.go.ke, including the relevant project reference number.
President William Ruto interacting with workers at the Affordbale Housing Programme in Garissa, Thursday, February 6, 2025.
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