The Nairobi Revenue Authority (NRA) has launched a major enforcement campaign against property owners who have failed to pay land rates for more than three years, warning that persistent defaulters now face property attachment and auction, Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) listing, and other legal recovery measures.
To spearhead the operation, the NRA has appointed six specialized debt recovery firms to oversee recoveries across Nairobi’s six boroughs.
The authority announced on Thursday, July 30 that it had commenced immediate debt recovery proceedings targeting long-standing land rates arrears, together with accumulated penalties and interest, in what is expected to be one of the county’s most aggressive revenue enforcement exercises.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said it was unfair for small traders to shoulder the burden of financing county services while many property owners continue to default on land rates.
“Mama Mboga and small business owners have never failed to pay what is due to the county. However, many landowners have failed to pay what they owe the county,” Sakaja said.
“Out of 250,000 parcels, only 50,000 accounts have been opened and pay their rates. We have even introduced installments to make payments easier. All of this is automated so unless payments hit the accounts, no person can make an adjustment for you” he added.
Under the new deployment, Siuma Auctioneers will oversee recoveries in the Western Borough, while Prysis Solutions Limited has been assigned the Northern Borough. Jephys Auctioneers will handle the Central Borough, Boresha Credit Services Limited the South Eastern Borough, Quest Holdings Limited the Eastern Borough, and AFS Holdings Limited the Southern Borough.
Sakaja reiterated that the county could no longer rely on compliant taxpayers while allowing chronic defaulters to escape their obligations.
“Mama Mboga, motorists and other law-abiding taxpayers have never failed to pay their dues. We cannot continue running this city on the shoulders of Mama Mboga alone. Everyone must pay what they owe the county so that we can continue providing quality services,” he said.
Nairobi Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge said the county would move swiftly against persistent defaulters, warning that enforcement would proceed without further notice.
“Property owners in default are warned that failure to settle arrears immediately will trigger enforcement actions without further notice. Under the National Rating Act, 2024, enforcement measures may include property attachment and auction, Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) listing, and other statutory recovery actions,” Njoroge said.
He urged landowners to clear their outstanding balances immediately, emphasizing that all payments must be made exclusively through authorized Nairobi City County revenue accounts.
The latest crackdown forms part of Nairobi County’s efforts to strengthen own-source revenue collection and improve compliance among property owners. County officials have repeatedly expressed concern that only about 20 per cent of the city’s approximately 250,000 registered property owners regularly pay land rates, leaving the county with significant revenue shortfalls needed to finance service delivery and infrastructure development.
The authority said the enforcement exercise is intended to ensure equitable compliance with the law while boosting the county’s capacity to fund essential public services.
