Nairobi Property Tax Defaulters Threaten County’s Financial Stability, Warns Governor Sakaja
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has raised the alarm over the widespread failure by landowners in the city to pay property taxes, warning that the continued trend poses a serious threat to the county’s financial stability and its ability to deliver essential public services.
In an interview on Citizen TV, Governor Sakaja revealed that out of 250,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only about 50,000 are currently complying with their land rate obligations. This means that 80 percent of landowners are in default, leaving the county unable to raise the revenue it needs to operate efficiently.
“The biggest revenue earner in a city is property taxes,” the governor emphasized. “In Nairobi, we have 250,000 pieces of land, but only 50,000 landowners are paying land rates. So the burden falls on this small group. That is not sustainable.”
Governor Sakaja noted that with Nairobi’s fast-growing population, the demand for public services continues to increase. However, without the necessary revenue from land rates, the county government is finding it increasingly difficult to meet these demands.
To encourage compliance, the governor announced an extension of the land rate waiver until April 30. This waiver allows landowners to settle their arrears without penalties, offering a final window of opportunity before stricter enforcement measures are implemented.
“We have extended the waiver to 30th April this month,” Sakaja said. “Now that we have complete data on the 250,000 land parcels, it’s time to collect what is due so that we can deliver services effectively. We’ve given enough time. Going forward, we shall enforce.”
He added that the county is prepared to take more aggressive steps to compel defaulters to pay, including the clamping of buildings as permitted under the law. While such measures are available, the governor expressed hope that residents will take personal responsibility and avoid the need for enforcement.
“Buildings can be clamped. It is in the law,” he noted. “We would not want to get there. Let’s all take charge. Let’s not leave a small percentage of landowners carrying the heavy burden of land rates for the whole city.”
The governor urged all property owners to take advantage of the waiver period to regularize their payments and support the county’s efforts to stabilize its revenue base. He warned that continued non-compliance would no longer be tolerated, as it threatens the sustainability of county operations.
Land rates are the single largest source of own-source revenue for Nairobi County, accounting for about 25 percent of total collections. In addition to land rates, the county’s other revenue streams include parking fees, single business permits, building permits, billboards and advertisements, and house rents. Collectively, these contribute to around 80 percent of Nairobi’s annual own-source revenue.
In past years, the county has also offered rent waivers for residents living in county-owned housing units. These units—approximately 17,000 in number—are located in various estates across the city, including Maringo, Uhuru, Kaloleni, Jericho, Buruburu, Kariobangi South, Ziwani, and Jerusalem.
As the April 30 deadline approaches, Governor Sakaja is calling on all landowners to act responsibly and pay their dues to prevent service interruptions and ensure Nairobi can meet the needs of its residents.
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Nairobi Property Tax Defaulters Threaten County’s Financial Stability, Warns Governor Sakaja
