Rate defaulters in Nairobi are in trouble after the county government yesterday began a crackdown to collect overdue payments.

This comes after the expiration of a waiver period that ended on April 30, during which landowners were allowed to regularise their accounts.

Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge confirmed the imminent enforcement operations, stating that all preparations have been completed and enforcement teams will be deployed across all sub-counties starting next week.

Collect revenue

“We have begun this exercise, and we will move across all parts of the capital to collect revenue. We have been too lenient, and this will not be the case again,” said Njoroge as he flagged off the team yesterday.

Governor Johnson Sakaja had previously revealed that only 20 per cent of Nairobi’s landowners, around 50,000 out of 256,000 registered parcels, are up to date with their land rates, a situation he described as “unsustainable.”

“We understand the economic hardship, which is why the governor extended the waiver. But it seems for some, no window is enough. Now we have no choice but to act. We need these funds to provide services like garbage collection, health care, and road maintenance,” Njoroge added.

The enforcement operation will begin in high-value areas such as Westlands, Upper Hill, Kilimani, and Industrial Area, with plans to expand to residential estates afterwards. Njoroge also warned that the county may publicly name chronic defaulters as part of its efforts to increase transparency and public pressure.

“We want everyone to pay their fair share. Those who have been doing so should not carry the load for the rest,” Njoroge said.