Only 20% of land parcels in the city pay rates, says Revenue Chief, as City Hall clamps down on CBD defaulters and sets sights on high-end properties next.

In an unprecedented move to recover billions of shillings in unpaid land rates, Nairobi County on Tuesday launched a sweeping clampdown on buildings in the Central Business District (CBD), marking the beginning of a far-reaching campaign targeting landowners who have long evaded their obligations.

Tiras Njoroge, the Nairobi County Receiver of Revenue, led the operation’s first phase, expressing both determination and frustration as county enforcement officers clamped several buildings with significant arrears.

“We have clamped properties in the CBD today with land rate arrears amounting to hundreds of millions of shillings. We’ve given them ample time to show goodwill in payment, but they have failed us,” Njoroge confirmed.

The operation, which began in the heart of the city, is set to expand to high-end residential and commercial areas starting Wednesday.

“Tomorrow, we will be clamping 20 more properties in high-end areas. It’s important to note that we are targeting hundreds of such buildings,” Njoroge warned.

According to county records, the situation is dire. Of the approximately 256,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only 50,000 are currently paying land rates—an alarming compliance rate of just 20%.

“If all parcels paid what is due, we’d be collecting billions—and we wouldn’t be struggling to settle our pending bills,” Njoroge noted.

The Nairobi County government has long struggled with a ballooning wage bill, stalled development projects, and service delivery challenges—all exacerbated by dwindling revenue. Land rates are a critical source of funding for the county, yet widespread non-compliance continues to undermine its financial stability.

“It’s a sad affair,” Njoroge added. “The 80% of landowners who don’t pay land rates still expect timely and quality services from us. That’s simply not sustainable.”

This operation signals a new phase in the county’s efforts to plug revenue leaks and hold defaulters accountable. Previous amnesty programs and public appeals have failed to deliver meaningful results, prompting City Hall to take a firmer stance.

Sources within City Hall say the county has compiled a comprehensive list of defaulters, with legal and administrative teams on standby to escalate enforcement—including property auctions and legal proceedings—should the clampdown fail to compel compliance.