Governor Sakaja defends land rates crackdown

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has sent a clear message to property owners defaulting on land rates, stating that the county is ramping up enforcement as the financial year nears its end.

Speaking at the CBK Police Housing launch in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, Sakaja defended the county’s aggressive revenue collection push, particularly targeting those with outstanding land rate payments.

"We’ve intensified our efforts to collect land rates, and while some individuals are unhappy with measures like building clamping, we must ensure compliance," the governor said.

"But Mr. President, with all due respect, it’s deeply unfair," Governor Sakaja said.

"Mama Mboga faithfully pays her dues at the market every day, yet some individuals living in affluent neighbourhoods, owning buildings in the city, won’t part with a shilling in land rates. We all demand better services, but that’s not realistic if we’re not all playing our part."

He underscored the need for shared responsibility in efforts to elevate Nairobi to global standards.

"Just last week, the Mayor of Paris was here. She mentioned that Paris, with a population of 2 million, operates on a Ksh132 billion budget. Meanwhile, Nairobi home to over 7 million people, survives on Ksh40 billion," Sakaja noted.

"Yet we still expect services on par with Paris. That’s unattainable if we can’t even raise funds through basic levies like business permits and land rates."

Sakaja added that the county government has intensified efforts to ensure all property owners clear their land rate arrears, vowing that the enforcement drive will be impartial.

"No one will be exempt. We won’t allow a few to dodge their responsibilities while the rest shoulder the weight. The crackdown is ongoing," he affirmed.

The county's revenue team, under the leadership of Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge, has stepped up its operations and committed to sustaining the exercise through the month of June.