City Hall seizes Taifa Road parking lot over Sh41.1 million debt
The facility, which serves hundreds of motorists daily, will now be managed by City Hall until the full amount is paid.
Nairobi County has taken over operations of a private parking lot behind the Kencom building on Taifa Road to recover over Sh41 million in land rates and fees owed by its owners.
The facility, which serves hundreds of motorists daily, will now be managed by City Hall until the full amount is paid.
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The county’s revenue office said the premises have also failed to renew their Unified Business Permit, which expired in March, attracting an additional Sh200,000 in penalties. The action comes as part of a broader drive by the county to enforce compliance among property owners.
“This Kencom private parking lot owes the county Sh41 million. Starting today, we are taking over its operations to recover the money until the debt is fully paid,” said Tiras Njoroge, the County Receiver of Revenue. Njoroge said Nairobi County is determined to recover all outstanding debts and will not tolerate non-compliance.
“We are committed to ensuring that every property owner pays their duties. Revenue from land rates and business permits is essential for delivering services to Nairobi residents,” she added.
The Taifa Road parking lot is one of several high-value properties targeted in the current enforcement wave. On May 14, the county sealed off the Freemasons’ Hall on Nyerere Road, citing land rate arrears amounting to Sh19 million.
Senior officials involved in the clampdown, including Chief Officer of the Governor Priscilla Mahinda and Chief Officer for Housing Lydia Mathia, stated that all actions taken were lawful and followed due process.
Health CEC Suzanne Silantoi indicated that the county would expand the crackdown further, including disconnections of water and sewer lines for properties that continue to default on payments.
Among other properties affected in the recent operation were a petrol station along Haile Selassie Avenue and a commercial building on Koinange Street. Together, they owe the county over Sh10 million in unpaid dues. The county has urged all business and property owners to settle their arrears and renew permits promptly to avoid further enforcement.
Land rates make up about 25 per cent of Nairobi's annual revenue, and despite other revenue sources like parking fees and building permits, the county has been facing a loss due to late or missed payments.
Nairobi County has also granted rent waivers for residents in county-owned houses in neighbourhoods like Maringo, Uhuru, and Buruburu, but the financial shortfall continues.
According to Section 7 of the Nairobi City County Waiver Administration Act of 2013, any rent waiver granted must be reported to the County Assembly and published in the gazette notice within 14 days of its issuance.
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