Editor's Review

 Sakaja intimated that some advertising companies had violated a moratorium issued by the county government.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a crackdown on illegal billboards in the capital city following an outcry over visual pollution.

Speaking on Thursday, September 17, Sakaja intimated that some advertising companies had violated a moratorium issued by the county government.

He revealed that Nairobi County had met the companies, which had initially agreed to self-regulate. However, when the firms failed to govern themselves, the county stepped in and banned the erection of new billboards.

"We brought together all these advertising companies, and they asked for self-regulation. We agreed to give it a try, and we put a moratorium to say no more.

"Many of them have gone behind of us and put up illegal billboards. You will see many of them come down because there are too many, and some are even dangerous," Sakaja Stated.

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A file photo of billboards in Nairobi.

Sakaja admitted that he faced challenges in implementing the crackdown, as some of the companies believed that they were being targeted. He narrated an incident where a businessman pulled a gun on one of his county staff.

"Many times they claimed that they are being targeted or it is business rivalry. I remember when we were clearing some on Kenyatta Avenue, one of them came with a gun and threatened our staff; then he realised that even those belonging to opponents were also brought down," he stated.

The County Chief reiterated his commitment to maintain the greenery within the capital city. He condemned the haphazard cutting down of trees by individuals and some state agencies.

He singled out Kenya Power and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for felling down several trees in the country to pave the way for road expansion and electricity infrastructure.

"Nobody is allowed to cut trees without permission from the county government. There are so many agencies like Kenya Power and KURA which cut down trees, and I almost collapsed when I saw what was done on State House Road," Sakaja stated.

Earlier, Kilimani Member of County Assembly (MCA)Robert Alai launched a campaign against illegal billboards. He claimed that apart from visual pollution, the billboards posed safety hazards and caused environmental degradation.