Sakaja: Nairobi's development stalled by land rate defaulters
Sakaja also revealed that residents living in council houses without paying land rates for more than 10 years had been evicted, saying the city had lost too much revenue over time.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has blamed the slow development of the city on widespread failure by property owners to pay land rates, warning that defaulters will continue to face clampdowns by the county administration.
Speaking during the CBK Police Housing event in Industrial Area, where he accompanied President William Ruto, Sakaja said Nairobi cannot realise its full potential unless all residents play their part in revenue collection.
More To Read
- Property owners in Nairobi urged to enrol titles in City Hall database
- Freemasons Society sues Nairobi City County Government over Sh19 million land rate dispute
- City Hall seizes Taifa Road parking lot over Sh41.1 million debt
- Freemasons’ Hall shut, over 100 Ngara tenants thrown out in Nairobi land rate crackdown
- City Hall to freeze accounts, auction properties over Sh50 billion land rates arrears
- Nairobi County to clamp properties, evict rent defaulters from Monday
He pointed out that only a quarter of property owners in the city pay land rates, forcing a few to bear the burden of funding services.
“If we want to get to the level of Paris, everyone needs to play their part. Mr President, allow me to say it is very unfair for Mama Mboga to pay her dues every single day in the market,” Sakaja said.
“Yet there are people living in posh estates, owning buildings in the city in Karen, among others, who won’t pay a single shilling in land rates. We all want better services, but that cannot happen if we’re not contributing.”
The governor, who recently hosted the mayor of Paris, said the French capital manages a budget of Sh137 billion despite having only two million residents because everyone pays their dues.
He contrasted this with Nairobi, where many property owners do not pay land rates yet demand better services.
“We shall not let a few people avoid their obligations while others carry the burden. The crackdown continues,” the county boss added.
Sakaja also revealed that residents living in council houses without paying land rates for more than 10 years had been evicted, saying the city had lost too much revenue over time.
“Some people staying in council houses had not paid for 15 years, and we had to remove them, even though people took it negatively. Only a quarter of land owners in the city are paying rates, and the burden of the city is being carried by a few individuals,” he said.
He commended the national government for starting to clear its pending land rate arrears and encouraged it to continue doing so.
Sakaja’s remarks follow recent enforcement actions by the county aimed at recovering land rates.
Last month, county officials issued notices to defaulters in various estates and began clamping down on properties.
However, the crackdown has led to legal challenges, with several property owners, including the Freemason Society, suing the county for alleged wrongful clamping and property damage during the operations.
Top Stories Today
