Tightening the noose: City Hall continues to disconnect water for land rate defaulters

Counties
Tightening the noose: City Hall continues to disconnect water for land rate defaulters

Nairobi City County is stepping up its revenue enforcement efforts, as it continues to disconnect services from the county for land rate defaulters. Currently, a list of over 100 high-profile properties has been released, and the process to cut them off from county services is underway.

The affected properties including well-known commercial and residential buildings across the city — are now being denied essential services such as water supply, garbage collection, parking access, and licensing support. This bold step marks a new phase in the County’s ongoing revenue recovery campaign.

Confirming the development, Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge states that the decision is lawful and aimed at pushing defaulters to take responsibility.

“Whatever we are doing is fully within the law. Some of these properties owe millions in unpaid land rates, yet their owners continue to enjoy our services without showing any real effort to pay,” Njoroge explains.

Njoroge notes that most of the targeted properties have already received multiple warnings, clamping notices, and SMS alerts — but no meaningful attempts are being made to settle the debts.

“We are doing our part. Now we are taking action. For better services, everyone must pay what is due. We can’t have a city where the law applies selectively,” he adds.

This wave of enforcement follows the County’s issuance of final SMS notifications to over 5,000 property owners last weekend. These messages warned of imminent auction under the National Rating Act No. 15 of 2024, which empowers counties to seize and sell properties to recover unpaid rates.

In addition to auction proceedings, the County is also:
• Securing court orders for debt recovery,
• Requesting caveats from the Ministry of Lands to block transactions on listed properties,
• Initiating service blackouts for listed defaulters.

Njoroge emphasizes that regular ratepayers — including small traders and homeowners — should not carry the burden while owners of prime real estate avoid taxes.

“We all want clean water, good roads, and functioning hospitals. But that requires revenue. The law must apply equally to all,” he stresses.

The County vows to continue with enforcement well into the next financial year. Property owners are being advised to settle their dues or face consequences ranging from auction to full withdrawal of services.

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