Relief for Nairobi Landlords as Sakaja Issues Order Ahead of Crackdown

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a directive extending county customer service hours through the weekend, providing a last-minute window for property owners to regularize their land rate payments. The move comes just days before a scheduled crackdown on defaulters who have failed to comply with Nairobi City County laws.

The Governor confirmed that the extension is specifically designed to give residents ample time to settle arrears and access county services. Under the current order, property owners who pay their outstanding rates before the March 31 deadline will be eligible for a 3 percent discount on their payments.

This latest development follows a series of efforts by City Hall to recover billions in unpaid revenue. Earlier in the year, the county administration had offered a 100 percent waiver on penalties and interest for those who settled their principal amounts in full. Despite these incentives, compliance levels have remained low, prompting the transition toward stricter enforcement.

The upcoming crackdown will target thousands of property owners across the capital. Governor Sakaja noted that low compliance rates place an unfair financial burden on the minority of residents who pay consistently. This revenue gap, according to the county, directly limits the ability of the administration to fund critical infrastructure and services, including road maintenance, street lighting, and health facilities.

To bolster the recovery process, Nairobi City County has engaged professional debt collectors. These agents are tasked with recovering outstanding funds while ensuring all actions are documented and conducted within the legal framework. The Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, previously indicated that voluntary compliance efforts have been largely exhausted after a year of offering flexible payment plans.

City Hall has warned that once the deadline passes, enforcement measures will be firm. The county intends to use these funds to streamline service delivery and address the growing infrastructure needs of the city. Property owners are encouraged to utilize the extended weekend hours to avoid the penalties and legal actions that will follow the March 31 cutoff.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the county's financial position and ensure that all developers and landlords contribute their fair share toward the maintenance of the capital's built environment.