i am not sure

Where i live people build without approval and they just get a fundi who builds the house even without an architectural house plan-the fundi does the rough drawing. Does it mean they are breaking the law or something?

Good to have you raise such a motion in a question form. What lacks in Kenya is architectural banks where you can go online like Nairobi Property and select approved layouts for specific locations depending on topography. What you need is just to take Your "Fundi" there to be approved to make the same for documentation and council fees!
Hope our university graduates will form such offices under- one- roof than getting formal employment.
Just assume why we have a jungle of unplanned rocky and shaky building on estates?

@ josiah33-in Kenya all permanent buildings are required to pass trough an approval as stated in the Local Government Act. Exceptions are semi-permanent and Govt. Buildings.The local authority have the right to demolish or remedy any un-approved building within their jurisdiction.
@ jaggernaut-a Simba is not permanent so you dont require an approval.
@Realtreaty-architectural firms are many-just do a google search and you will see many of them who can advice you on the most appropriate building for any particular area.
To assist in approval, i have developed this platfrom below so that applications are done more conveniently.

www.a4architect.com/submit-drawings/

@josiah33-the council does not approve fundis. Its jurisdiction is in approving buildings. Technical people such as contractors,engineers and architects are approved/licenced by Ministry of Public works through the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors of Kenya.
I see you have registered on http://www.a4architect.com/submit-drawings/
You can now apply for approvals online-the approvals can be architectural, building maintenance e.g painting, land subdivision, road works or structural engineering approvals. Enjoy the use and feel free to consult me if you get stuck.

now am well adviced.

it's good we have people like you who can give valuable advice here on wazua.

@XSK-Change from freehold to leasehold is done on the title deed especially during seeking approval for subdivision of land.what the local authority is simply saying is that the land use for your land is not residential-you need to change it from whichever use e.g agricultural,industrial e.t.c to residential.

@josiah33-welcome

@madammary-the application is simple-submit your architectural drawings to mavoko.They will calculate and tel you how much to pay. After paying, they will approve/ammend/disapprove the drawings. You will aslo take the drawings to Machakos Ministry of Lands for checking on land title e.t.c If its ok, return the drawings back to Mavoko for the final approval.
Incase you dont want to travel all the way to mavoko,then machakos and back, simply log on to www.a4architect.com/submit-drawings/ and post your application to machakos. The Movoko and machakos representatives will view the application online at the same time and give their input.

@a4architect do you mean residential plots cannot be freehold and have to be changed to leasehold? and after your architectural plan is approved can you use your local fundi who is most probably not registered but can build a house since the contractors are more expensive?

@a4

what about multiple dwelling units eg apartments can they be on freehold?