Nairobi county Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge making an address. PHOTO: FILE
As the festive season approaches, Nairobi City Hall is offering landowners a financial breather—while sounding the alarm over a growing compliance crisis that is draining county coffers and straining service delivery.
Nairobi County has rolled out a fresh land rates waiver, even as officials raise concern that only a quarter of land parcels in the capital are paying rates, a failure they say is crippling revenue collection.
The one-off waiver, running from December 15 to December 31, 2025, wipes out 100 percent of accumulated interest and penalties for landowners who clear their outstanding arrears within the window.
Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge said the incentive is meant to ease pressure on ratepayers during the festive season while helping the county boost its own-source revenue.
“This is an opportunity to correct any outstanding land rates you may have accumulated. Take advantage of the waiver, which wipes out 100 percent of interest and penalties. Come January 1, 2025, it will not be business as usual; any unpaid amount will be treated as default,” Njoroge said.
Earlier this year, Governor Sakaja Johnson disclosed that out of 250,000 registered land parcels, only 50,000—barely one quarter—are complying with land rate payments.
“The biggest revenue earner in a city is property taxes. In Nairobi, we have 250,000 pieces of land, but only 50,000 landowners are paying land rates. That is not sustainable,” Sakaja warned.
He added that the county’s inability to fund essential services, from roads and waste management to health and public lighting, is directly tied to widespread non-payment.
“Now that we have complete data on all 250,000 parcels, it’s time to collect what is due so we can deliver services. We’ve given enough time; going forward, we shall enforce,” he said.
Ratepayers can download their bills via nairobiservices.go.ke or visit City Hall Annexe and all sub-county offices. The county has also provided active phone and email channels for inquiries.
Njoroge reiterated that the waiver period is the final soft landing for defaulters, warning that enforcement will follow immediately after it lapses.
“Strict enforcement will begin immediately after December 31. Defaulters will be required to pay the full principal, plus reinstated interest and penalties,” he confirmed.
Governor Sakaja also hinted at tougher legal measures, including the clamping of buildings, for persistent non-compliance.
“Buildings can be clamped. It is in the law. We do not want to get there. Let’s not leave a small fraction of landowners carrying the heavy luggage of land rates,” he said.
City Hall is urging residents to take advantage of the waiver while it lasts, insisting that improved compliance is key to sustainable revenue and better services in the capital.
