President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked landlords across the country not to put tenants in an undue pressure to pay rent.
Uhuru on Monday said the current COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on the economy and the results are already devastating.
He said as a results, many organisations have sent employees home either on forced or unpaid leave.
Others have been laid off.
Uhuru during the state of the nation address said the current situation calls on compassion and understanding.
He said he was pleased with the landlords who had already put measures in place to waive rent for their tenants until the situation is stable.
"I want to urge the rest to emulate the same by not putting people in more vulnerable situations," he said.
He added, "I want to extend my gratitude to those who have continued to share the heavy burden of the pandemic by rising to the occasion and sharing in their bounty of their blessings to waive rents for those who are more vulnerable".
Uhuru further directed the Nairobi Metropolitan Area to ensure that residents are supplied with free water.
He said he has directed the National treasury to allocate all the domestic and international travel budget for the executive, legislature, judiciary and county governments to cater for the provision of face masks, medical equipment, water and food items to those vulnerable.
Last month the Clergy Association of Kenya asked the government to direct landlords across the country to allow tenants a three-month relief from paying rent.
The association said this will allow many Kenyans who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to recover from its shocks.
The clergy told journalists that though they are appreciative of the targeted interventions the government has put in place to cushion Kenyans from the shocks, it is worth noting that many have been sent on either forced or unpaid leave.
“The situation on the ground is tough for many families. Businesses have been affected and there is no cash flow,” the association said in a statement.
“We ask the government to advise all landlords in Kenya to allow tenants living on rentals to stay at least for three months without being harassed so that they can deal with the Covid-19 shock”.
