The train to end encroachments has departed

Mohammed Al-Jalawi to “Al-Rai”:

- The municipality came to rectify the situation... not to punish

- The campaign’s success before the removal teams were deployed is a sign of public awareness... and public water coolers are not subject to removal

- Some focus on the term “diwaniyas”... but the municipality’s target is any structure built on the sidewalk curb or beyond it

- No removal of fruit-bearing trees or ornamental gardens, provided they comply with permitted setbacks and heights

On its first day, the Kuwait Municipality launched one of its largest campaigns to remove encroachments on state-owned properties in residential and model areas, sweeping through the country’s six governorates under the slogan “Kuwait is more beautiful without encroachments.” The initiative aims to implement strategic plans devised by the municipality’s senior management to enhance the urban and aesthetic environment, restore “Kuwait’s beauty,” safeguard public safety, and reestablish order in residential neighborhoods.

Consequently, municipal bulldozers and machinery moved in to remove encroachments after the expiration of a two-week grace period granted to violators to voluntarily rectify their situations, underscoring the pivotal and leading role of regulatory bodies in efficiently and professionally protecting state assets.

Speaking to “Al-Rai” on Monday, Mohammed Al-Jalawi, the official spokesperson and member of the Central Operations Team at the Director General’s Office, emphasized that the campaign had already succeeded before the removal teams were deployed to the field. He noted that many violators voluntarily removed their own encroachments through cooperation with the municipality. He highlighted high-level coordination with relevant government entities to address any potential obstacles, adding that the violators’ willingness to remove their encroachments reflects their awareness of the importance of preserving state assets, ensuring public safety, and utilizing public spaces without private exploitation.

Al-Jalawi added, “We seek continued cooperation. Any initiative by the encroacher to remove their own violations will be met with full support. The municipality’s primary objective is to rectify the situation and ensure public safety, not to punish.”

Regarding the types of violations identified by municipal teams, he stated that they encompass any structures that threaten visibility or safety, such as green fences, encroachments on electrical transformers, or emergency pathways, as well as any rooms, barriers, or walls constructed beyond the street.

In response to claims that the campaign targets diwaniyas exclusively, Al-Jalawi clarified that while some may be focusing excessively on the term “diwaniyas,” this is not the municipality’s stance. Rather, in accordance with established municipal regulations and laws, any structure built on the sidewalk curb, obstructing visibility, or endangering pedestrians will be addressed accordingly. He pointed out that the municipality has clearly and explicitly stated that removal efforts will cover areas “beyond the street,” whether they are diwaniyas or similar structures, emphasizing the term “structure,” which is an official term but inclusive of all violations.

When asked whether fruit-bearing trees would also be removed, Al-Jalawi noted that the campaign has environmental dimensions and other considerations. He explained that the law is designed to protect all rights generally, and thus he confirmed that no fruit-bearing trees will be removed, nor will ornamental gardens, provided they comply with permitted setbacks and heights under the regulations. Furthermore, public water coolers (sabil) are not subject to removal.

Regarding rumors about imposing blocks on encroachers, financial fines, and other penalties, he clarified that from the first day of the campaign, the municipality clearly and prominently communicated its message: the municipality’s mission is to rectify the situation, not to punish, as punishment is not its objective. On the contrary, the municipality is promoting enhanced cooperation with all parties through initiatives to remove encroachments before inspection teams arrive.

He added that evidence of this approach is the observation of numerous cases where encroachers voluntarily removed their violations in cooperation with municipal teams. Therefore, if the municipality were threatening penalties and fines, such voluntary removal initiatives would not exist. However, there have been some misinterpretations and misleading narratives regarding the municipality’s message.

• Close Follow-up: Personal supervision by Minister of Municipality Abdul Latif Al-Mashari and General Manager Manal Al-Asfour over the progress of field operations across all governorates.

• Partnership, Not Punishment: Senior management directed inspection teams to interact with citizens based on cooperation and the public interest, rather than a punitive mindset.

• Awareness First: Directives emphasized highlighting the municipality’s role as a partner to citizens in improving the residential environment and preserving aesthetic appearance.

1. Prohibition of constructing any facility or iron fence in areas behind the street.

3. Agricultural fences must be open on at least one side with a width of at least 3 meters.

4. The permitted setback around the perimeter of an electrical transformer is 4 meters on three sides, except for the main side, which must be fully open to the street sidewalk.

5. The permitted setback around the main transformer is 7 meters on all four sides.

6. Prohibition of blocking public passages (alleys), which must remain open to pedestrians with a minimum width of 3 meters.

A friendly interaction recently took place at one of the campaign sites between a Kuwait Municipality employee and a citizen. The employee explained the types of removals carried out by the municipality and their reasons, clarifying that “the procedures are based on regulatory bylaws and aim to remove encroachments on state property, ensure public safety, and organize the urban landscape.”

The citizen expressed understanding of the procedures and cooperated with the municipal teams, in a scene reflecting the importance of direct dialogue in enhancing awareness and legal compliance.

The municipality affirmed that “encroachment removal campaigns are implemented for all violations without exception,” stressing that the law is applied to everyone in accordance with regulations and bylaws, in the interest of the public and to protect state property.

The campaign witnessed cooperation and responsiveness from several encroachers, who voluntarily removed their encroachments on state property, facilitating the work of municipal teams and ensuring smooth execution.

During the campaign, security presence was deployed to organize workflow and secure municipal teams during encroachment removal procedures, ensuring the maintenance of order and the safety of all parties.

Kuwait Municipality has deployed its machinery, bulldozers, field teams, and necessary workforce to execute encroachment removal campaigns, distributing them across all targeted sites according to the approved plan, ensuring swift completion and enhancing fieldwork efficiency.

The municipality confirmed that “encroachment removal campaigns will continue according to the approved plan and will not cease until full implementation is verified and all violations on state property are removed, thereby ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding the public interest.”

The municipality has decided to remove all debris from the removal sites and transport it to the municipality’s seized scrap yard, following approved procedures, with the aim of clearing targeted sites, maintaining public cleanliness, and preventing the reuse of illegal materials or leaving them at removal sites.