In 35 Nairobi City County estates housing close to 20,000 tenants, the County Government has profiled nearly 5,000 rent defaulters. As part of a multi-sectoral revenue collection drive, close to 100 of these tenants have already been evicted. Sources indicate that the total rent arrears amount to over KSh300 million, with some cases dating back nearly 20 years. But what prompted the eviction of thousands from county houses?

Lydia Mathia, Nairobi’s Housing Chief Officer, has explained the evictions, terming them a multsectoral initiative to uphold fairness and service delivery across the city.

“We are talking about over KSh300 million in arrears, some dating close to 20 years unpaid. It is unfair to everyone else in Nairobi who expects services from the county water, garbage collection, and more yet some tenants don’t pay a cent,” Mathia explains

According to Ms. Mathia, investigations into county housing estates revealed shocking levels of rent default. In Woodley — a prime area where private two-bedroom homes go for around KSh250,000 a month — some tenants were paying as little as KSh17,000 for county houses, and still failed to pay. In Buruburu, some tenants have defaulted on amounts close to KSh2 million for houses valued at KSh12,000 a month. Similar cases were found in Ngara Kariokor and Kariobangi South, where some defaulters owe nearly KSh1 million in rent.

“We found people who have not paid rent for over 10 years. We engaged them through public participation, urged them politely to pay, but many simply refused,” she said.

In some startling examples, one tenant reportedly racked up KSh425,000 in arrears over 16 years for a house meant to cost just KSh2,200 a month. Another, occupying a KSh900 monthly unit, hadn’t paid rent in 15 years, owing KSh151,000.

“When there are others ready to pay more, how is it fair to let someone live rent-free for decades?” asked Mathia.

President William Ruto, speaking during a church service in Buruburu on June 8, backed Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration on the evictions, echoing Mathia’s position that rent must be paid.

“Governor Sakaja is a listening leader. He gave over two years for tenants to clear their arrears. Those who paid were not evicted,” she emphasized.

However, the policy stance has triggered political backlash. Nairobi MCAs moved to censure Ms. Mathia, a move she challenged in court.

The High Court has since suspended the motion, granting Mathia a reprieve. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the process was flawed and stopped the MCAs from enforcing the resolution, pending a full hearing set for August 11.

In her court filings, Ms. Mathia argues the MCAs’ motion was unconstitutional and amounted to an impeachment disguised as a probe.

“This is not about punishing the poor it’s about fairness. Sh300 million could build stadiums and fund essential services. Let’s not politicize what is simply a matter of accountability. This is a government-wide revenue drive for a better Nairobi that delivers on service,” she stated.

This comes as Nairobi City County continues with its Urban Renewal Housing Projects, aimed at upgrading several estates. For instance, in Woodley, where there were originally 43 housing units, the county is now constructing 1,975 modern units after compensating the 43 tenants with Sh600,000 each and issuing them allotment letters