No more land rate waivers, Governor Sakaja tells Nairobi property owners
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ruled out any land rate waivers this year, stating that the county will strictly enforce payments from property owners.
The county boss pointed out that there would be no exemptions and those who fail to pay will face legal consequences.
More To Read
- Speaker faults Nairobi MCAs for inaction as rogue developments rise across the city
- Ruto used Sakaja to send goons to disrupt church service, Gachagua claims
- Nairobi's Dishi Na County programme in a spot over Sh145m unexplained spending
- Sakaja hints at joining Raila's ODM Party ahead of 2027 elections
- Governor Sakaja threatens contractors damaging city roads with license denial
- Residents of city slums urge Sakaja to station firefighters in their neighbourhoods
"We are very firm on enforcement of rates this year. Some people have been waiting not to pay, waiting for a waiver. There is no waiver this year, there is no waiver. The deadline is March, and we are going to do enforcement and follow the provisions of the law," Sakaja affirmed.
The governor urged national government institutions operating in Nairobi to settle their land rates, following revelations by Senator Edwin Sifuna that various government agencies owe the county up to Sh100 billion in unpaid bills.
Last year, the county administration granted a 100 per cent waiver on penalties and interest for payments made between May 20 and June 20, 2024. The initiative was part of efforts to boost revenue collection, though it fell short of expectations.
In the first quarter of the current financial year, land rate collections stood at Sh196 million but later dropped to Sh142 million in the second quarter.
Chief Officer for Revenue Tirus Njoroge attributed the decline to changes in internal policies on issuing waivers.
He stated that enforcement measures would now focus on recovering outstanding amounts, including clamping down on defaulting properties and auctioning those with long-standing arrears.
"While waivers on land rates have been issued in previous financial years, the result is often reducing compliance within the legally stipulated period of January-March. We are now enforcing those penalties accrued in various ways, including an operation to clamp down on properties that have not paid rates and auction those that have been notorious and failed to pay rates over a long period," Njoroge stated.
The county government remains firm on recovering pending bills, warning property owners that failure to comply will lead to legal action.
Top Stories Today
- Livestock ministry warns budget shortfall will delay key projects
- Politician Philip Aroko freed on bail in Kasipul MP murder case
- Google prepares Chrome for Android to auto-fill SMS verification codes
- Gabon's ousted president Bongo flies to Angola with family
- Court suspends UDA's disciplinary case against Senator Orwoba
- Former Busia governor Ojaamong acquitted in Sh8m graft case
- Mitumba trade no threat to local textile industry, new report finds
- FKE warns of job losses as high taxes force businesses to close
- Boda boda rider in Kasipul MP’s murder case detained for 20 days
- Lack of clarity on harmful pesticides ban alarms farmers
- Farmaajo accuses Somali president of deepening crisis through constitutional breaches
- KWS advocates for 10pc tourism revenue share to local communities
- Petition filed to halt vetting of Ruto’s IEBC nominees over alleged irregularities
- RSF drone strikes cut power in Khartoum as war escalates
- Gachagua drops pre-impeachment cases, shifts focus to overturning ouster in court
- Environmentalists raise alarm over hotel being built in Ngong Road Forest
- Wajir residents want state to prioritise water, roads in upcoming budget
- NGOs given until May 2026 to comply with governance, reporting rules
- Afreximbank launches Sh129bn funding kitty to empower African creatives
- Duale: Kenya to receive BCG, polio vaccines next month
