Nairobi extends land rates payment deadline to April 15

Property owners in Nairobi have been granted more time to clear their land rates without penalties after Governor Johnson Sakaja extended the payment deadline to April 15, 2025.

Governor Sakaja made the announcement after meeting with revenue officials to review the county’s revenue collection.

He noted that the extension was necessary to ease financial strain on residents while boosting compliance and revenue collection for public services.

“We understand the economic challenges Nairobians are facing, and we want to give them ample time to settle their land rates without penalties. This extension ensures fairness while encouraging compliance,” Sakaja stated.

The county has urged property owners to take advantage of the extended period to make payments and avoid last-minute congestion.

Many property owners are yet to clear their dues, and the county is keen on ensuring a smooth process for all.

“Residents can conveniently pay via mobile phone or by visiting Nairobi Pay service centers. Within this period, no penalties will be charged,” Sakaja affirmed.

The governor also warned that once the new deadline lapses, the county will take action against defaulters who fail to meet their obligations.

Land rates remain Nairobi’s leading source of own revenue, contributing about 25 % of the county’s annual collections.

Other major revenue streams include parking fees, single business permits, house rents, building permits, billboards, and advertisements, which together account for nearly 80 percent of the county’s internal revenue.

Earlier in the year, Governor Sakaja had extended a waiver on penalties for land rates, a move aimed at encouraging property owners to settle their dues without added financial burden.

The county government has also provided rent waivers to residents living in county-owned houses.

These houses, numbering 17,000, are located in areas such as Maringo, Uhuru, Kaloleni, Jericho, Buruburu, Kariobangi South, Ziwani, and Jerusalem.

Rent for these houses ranges from Sh2,000 to Sh20,000 per month, depending on the location.

The county also owns additional houses in different parts of the city.

As per Section 7 of the Nairobi City County Waiver Administration Act of 2013, any rent waiver granted must be reported to the County Assembly and published in the gazette within 14 days.

Reports indicate that the county has been losing revenue due to delayed payments from property owners, a situation that officials are keen to reverse through improved compliance and enforcement measures.

Nairobi's own source revenue is normally generated by different revenue streams.

The six key own-source revenue streams include parking fees, rates, single business permits, house rents, building permits, and, billboards and adverts accounting to close to 80 percent of the county’s annual own-source revenue.

Land rates are the top own-source revenue earner in Nairobi accounting for about 25 per cent of revenue collected by the county government.

Earlier this year, Governor Sakaja had announced a one-month extension to the penalty waiver on land rates.

Over time, the county government has been providing rent waivers to residents living in county-owned houses.

These houses, numbering 17,000, are located in various neighborhoods including Maringo, Uhuru, Kaloleni, Jericho, Buruburu, Kariobangi South, Ziwani, and Jerusalem.

Rent for these houses ranges from Sh2,000 to Sh20,000 per month, depending on the location. Additionally, the county owns houses in other areas within the city.

According to Section 7 of the Nairobi City County Waiver Administration Act of 2013, any rent waiver granted must be reported to the County Assembly and published in the gazette notice within 14 days of its issuance.

Reports indicate that Nairobi is experiencing a loss in revenue due to residents’ failure to pay rates promptly.