No extension: Nairobi County warns landowners as land rates waiver nears end

Tiras Njoroge, the county’s Receiver of Revenue, emphasised that the waiver period will not be extended and warned that the county will invoke the National Rating Act to deal decisively with long-standing defaulters.

Njoroge explained that the waiver was designed as a final opportunity for landowners to regularise their accounts before stricter enforcement measures take effect in January.

“This waiver is the last soft landing. Once it expires on December 31, we will fully apply the law, including the provisions of the National Rating Act, to recover outstanding land rates,” he said.

The Receiver of Revenue noted that persistent non-compliance places an unfair burden on the small proportion of landowners who consistently pay their rates, undermining the county’s ability to fund essential services. Any unpaid amounts after the waiver deadline will be treated as defaults, with full interest and penalties reinstated.

“It is unfair that only about 20 per cent of Nairobi landowners are currently paying land rates, leaving a small group of compliant ratepayers to shoulder the cost of essential county services,” Njoroge added.

Starting January, the county will employ all lawful mechanisms to recover outstanding rates, he warned.

“Land rates fund roads, waste management, health services, public lighting, and other critical functions. The county aims to ensure that all land parcels contribute fairly to service delivery. Enforcement will proceed strictly within the law.”

The county also cautioned landowners against falling victim to unscrupulous individuals claiming to facilitate land rates payments. Njoroge urged residents to seek assistance only through official channels, including county sub-county revenue offices or the Nairobi Pay online platform.

Earlier, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that out of approximately 250,000 registered land parcels, only about 50,000 are compliant. He stressed that low compliance undermines the county’s ability to deliver services and indicated that persistent defaulters could face tougher legal measures, including the clamping of buildings.