The Nairobi County government has initiated a crackdown on land rate defaulters in a bid to improve revenue collection and enhance service delivery. The move follows a recent revelation by Governor Johnson Sakaja that only 20 percent of the city’s landowners about 50,000 out of 256,000 registered parcels have been paying land rates. This low compliance rate has been described as “unsustainable,” prompting urgent action to address the shortfall in revenue.
Tiras Njoroge, the Revenue Administration and ICT Infrastructure Chief Officer, announced that from Monday, May 12, the county will begin full enforcement of land rate payments. This includes clamping of properties, issuing of notices, and initiating legal proceedings against chronic defaulters. The county had previously extended a generous waiver period, which ended on April 30, to allow landowners to regularize their accounts. Despite this, many have failed to clear their dues.
In his address at City Hall, Njoroge emphasized the importance of these funds, which are critical for maintaining essential services such as garbage collection, healthcare, and road maintenance. He also acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by many residents but stressed that the county has no choice but to take action, as the government needs the funds to continue providing services to the public.
The enforcement will initially focus on high-value properties in areas such as Westlands, Upper Hill, Kilimani, and Industrial Area. As the crackdown progresses, it will expand to residential estates. To ensure transparency and increase public pressure, the county has warned that it may publish the names of chronic defaulters.
With the introduction of a new data system that maps all 256,000 parcels, the county can now monitor land rate compliance in real-time. This will help enforcement officers identify defaulters more effectively and take swift action to recover outstanding payments.
The county expects to collect over Sh10 billion in unpaid rates if compliance improves. These funds will play a crucial role in transforming Nairobi’s infrastructure and enhancing service delivery. Residents are encouraged to check their land rate status through the Nairobi Revenue Portal and clear any arrears to avoid penalties.
