CCTV, fibre optic network provisions now mandatory
New building plans will not be approved in the city without provisions of CCTV cameras and fibre optic cables space.
The Department of City Planning is now under obligation to ensure that all upcoming buildings have such provisions for technological and security features.
This means tenants walking in and out of their rented houses will be monitored from a central system whose recordings can be retrieved in case of a security hitch.
Entertainment
This also means that those going into shops, markets and entertainment joints will also be under surveillance and recordings of what they do there will be retrievable if need be.
The county and national governments have already signed a partnership deal that will see this rule effected beginning Thursday.
Governor Evans Kidero and the Information and Communication Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i signed the deal to enable monitoring of visitors in both commercial and residential buildings.
However, concerns of privacy have already been raised by a few resident associations but Dr Kidero promised caution.
“We shall be careful not to violate privacy rights of residents. The concerns have been raised, but we shall take care of that. We begin this January,” Kidero said.
The partnership also compels road constructions to allocate space for fibre optic cables to avoid damaging road surfaces when laying down the networks.
Last year, there were concerns on damaged roads in the Central Business District (CBD) when several firms dug out pavements and pedestrian paths to lay out the cables.
Lands and Physical Planning Executive Member Tom Odongo will spearhead the drive expected to raise more than Sh 50 million.