•In March 2019, it was reported that City Hall loses more than Sh15 million every month from the illegal erection of billboards.
•Wambua said that the county had issued a 10-day notice to that effect, failure to which action will be taken.
Image: FILE
Nairobi County government has called upon Outdoor advertising agencies to clear pending bills worth Sh350 million.
Failure to which appropriate action will be taken against them.
CEC for Finance Larry Wambua said that the county had issued a 10-day notice to that effect, failure to which action will be taken.
He revealed that as of August 31, 2022, the pending bills were worth Sh24.9 million, however, after going through the county records the amount was higher.
“After going through our records, we have realized that outdoor advertising companies owe the county more than Sh350 million that is outstanding for their various infrastructure on our roads and in our properties, we have given them 10 days to clear the outstanding amount,” Wambua noted
The Finance boss revealed that after the expiry of the notice, City hall will start bringing down billboards.
Wambua however noted that the county will accept a payment plan from the concerned companies to initiate gradual payment in settling the pending advertising arrears.
“We all recognize that this is a hard-economic time, so we are going to offer them a time frame for those who want to come and offer a payment plan, we will accept as long as it is reasonable,” he added.
In March 2019, it was reported that City Hall loses more than Sh15 million every month from the illegal erection of billboards.
The capital city has more than 200,000 signage and more than 1,000 large format advertisements from which the county collects Sh700 million annually against an estimated potential target of Sh2 billion.
Then executive for Urban Planning and Lands said Nairobi was owed more than Sh227 million by outdoor advertising companies.
The fourth quarter Budget Implementation Report for 2018-2019 shows that among the more than 100 revenue streams, only fire inspection and house rent met their annual targets.
From land rates City Hall collected Sh2.04 billion against a target of Sh3.6 billion. Parking fees amounted to Sh2 billion against a target of Sh3.03 billion.
Single Business permits were sold for Sh2 billion against a target of Sh 2.6 billion while building permits raked in Sh990 million against a target of Sh1.5 billion.
Billboards and advertising yielded Sh785 million against a target of Sh1 billion.
The county revenue department blamed the use of outdated valuation rolls and poor conditions of collection for the shortfall.