Nairobi County to launch crackdown on land rate defaulters from Monday
Residents have been advised to verify their land rate status on the Nairobi Revenue Portal.
The grace period for settling land rates in Nairobi has officially lapsed, and starting Monday, May 12, the Nairobi County Government will launch a sweeping crackdown targeting property owners with outstanding payments.
This move follows a recent revelation by Governor Johnson Sakaja, who disclosed that only about 50,000 out of the 256,000 registered land parcels—roughly 20%—are up to date with their rates.
He termed the situation as "unsustainable."
Speaking at City Hall on Friday, Tiras Njoroge, the county’s Receiver of Revenue, confirmed that enforcement plans are now complete. The county is set to begin operations in all sub-counties from next week.
"Enforcement starts on Monday. This includes clamping down on defaulting properties, serving notices, and pursuing legal action against persistent non-payers," Njoroge announced.
He noted that the county had extended a generous waiver period, which ran until April 30th, giving landowners ample time to clear their dues—but many failed to take advantage of the offer to settle their accounts.
"We’re aware of the financial challenges people are facing—that’s why the Governor extended the waiver period. But for some, no amount of time seems sufficient. At this point, we have to take action," he emphasized.
"These revenues are crucial for essential services like waste management, healthcare, and road upkeep.”
Njoroge revealed that the enforcement drive will kick off in prime locations such as Westlands, Upper Hill, Kilimani, and the Industrial Area, before being rolled out to residential neighborhoods.
He further cautioned that the county is prepared to publicly name persistent defaulters if necessary—a measure intended to promote transparency and apply public pressure.
"We expect everyone to contribute their fair share—it's unjust for the burden to fall on those who have been complying," he stated.
Njoroge highlighted that the county's upgraded data system has successfully mapped all 256,000 land parcels, allowing enforcement teams to access real-time information on rate compliance.
This advancement, he said, will curb evasion and enable prompt action against defaulters.
The Nairobi County Government estimates it could recover over KSh 10 billion in unpaid land rates if compliance improves—revenue deemed vital for upgrading infrastructure and enhancing public services across the city.
Residents have been advised to verify their land rate status on the Nairobi Revenue Portal and settle any outstanding balances promptly to avoid penalties.
