Nairobi County Launches Major Crackdown On Land Rate Defaulters

Nairobi County Government will on Monday, May 12, begin a major crackdown targeting property owners who have failed to pay land rates.

The move comes after the expiry of a waiver period aimed at encouraging payments. According to county records, only 20 percent of landowners—around 50,000 out of 256,000 registered parcels—have been complying with the requirement, a situation Governor Sakaja has termed “unsustainable.”

Speaking at City Hall on Friday, the county’s Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, said enforcement teams have been fully briefed and will be deployed across all sub-counties from Monday.

“From Monday, we begin full enforcement. This means clamping properties, issuing demand notices, and initiating legal action against persistent defaulters,” said Njoroge.

He noted that despite a grace period and an extended waiver ending on April 30, many property owners failed to settle their arrears.

“We understand times are tough, which is why the Governor gave more time. But some people continue to ignore their responsibilities. Now we must act. These funds are crucial for services like waste collection, healthcare, and road repair,” Njoroge added.

The enforcement operation will start with high-value areas such as Westlands, Upper Hill, Kilimani, and the Industrial Area before moving into residential neighbourhoods.

Njoroge warned that the county may publish the names of chronic defaulters to increase transparency and public accountability.

“Our goal is fairness. Those who have been paying cannot continue to shoulder the burden for others,” he said.

Thanks to a new digital system, the county has mapped all 256,000 land parcels and can now track payment compliance in real-time. Officials say this will make it easier to detect and act against evaders.

The county is aiming to collect over Sh10 billion in unpaid land rates, funds that are expected to support key development and service delivery projects across the city.

Property owners have been urged to confirm their land rate status through the Nairobi Revenue Portal and pay any outstanding amounts immediately to avoid penalties.