Over 5,000 Nairobi land rate defaulters face auction as City Hall steps up recovery drive

More than 5,000 Nairobi land rate defaulters have received final SMS warnings as the county government launches an auction campaign targeting properties with overdue payments.

The Nairobi City County Government has commenced legal action, referring properties to auctioneers and issuing final notices as the last formal warning to the owners.

According to the County Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, the first batch of auction alert messages was dispatched on Sunday, with a second group of property owners expected to receive similar notifications starting Monday. He confirmed that the recovery process is fully underway and not merely a threat.

“The law is very clear, non-payment of land rates leads to auction. This isn’t a threat; it’s the law being implemented,” Njoroge said, referring to the National Rating Act No. 15 of 2024.

The newly enacted law grants county governments the authority to recover land rates through direct enforcement mechanisms, including auctions.

“Your property LR XXX has an outstanding balance of KES XXX (Invoice No. YYY) and has been forwarded to auctioneers for recovery. Pay in full by 30th June to avoid auction. No further notice will be given before court action, as per the National Rating Act,” the SMS notice reads.

Court orders

In addition to instructing auctioneers to begin recovery, City Hall has obtained court orders to facilitate the process and formally asked the Ministry of Lands to place caveats on the listed parcels.

These caveats will prevent any sale, development, or transfer of the properties until all outstanding land rates are paid in full.

“This move is about fairness. It’s unjust for small traders to pay their dues while owners of prime properties continue to evade payment and still benefit from county services,” Njoroge said.

He added that better compliance is necessary for the county to deliver quality services.

“With proper revenue, we can fix roads, stock our hospitals, and provide clean water. But everyone must contribute,” he said.

Njoroge warned that the enforcement drive will continue beyond the end of the current financial year, urging defaulters not to ignore court documents.

“If you receive a court order, don’t panic—comply. This is about restoring equity,” he said.

Speaking during a Sunday church service at the Church of Christ in Africa in Makadara, President William Ruto defended the Nairobi County Government’s eviction efforts while urging Governor Johnson Sakaja to explore dialogue with defaulters.

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• 000 Nairobi land rate defaulters face auction as City Hall steps up recovery drive

“But let me ask you. Why would you be staying in a house and for the entire 15 years, fail to even remit a shilling to the owner? Is that even in order? I propose that you look for a viable option of instalment payments until completion,” Ruto said.

“So, governor, I want to ask you to be assertive but engage the leaders. We are not saying that people should be evicted, but rather be engaged on how to pay in instalments.”

Rent arrears

On May 10, dozens of residents in Nairobi’s Woodley Estate were left homeless and stranded after county officials evicted them over unpaid rent arrears. The residents claimed they had a court injunction against the evictions and accused the county government of ignoring legal orders.

“They came without warning, threw our things out, and told us to leave. We have nowhere else to go,” one resident said.

Despite public outcry, City Hall remained firm on its enforcement.

Njoroge reiterated that the goal of the operation is not only to recover funds but also to ensure Nairobi’s transformation.

The county is targeting more than Sh10 billion in unpaid rates, money he said is vital for essential services and infrastructure.

“This is not just about money, it’s about building a city that works for all,” he said