NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi landowners who have failed to pay land rates may soon lose their properties, as City Hall ramps up legal action against persistent defaulters in a renewed effort to boost revenue collection.
The Nairobi County Government has filed court applications seeking permission to auction clamped properties whose owners have ignored repeated demands to clear outstanding dues.
Speaking on Thursday during a radio interview, Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Charles Kerich, said the crackdown—now in its third week—had entered a more aggressive phase.
“We have compiled a list of properties that have been clamped and whose owners have refused to pay,” said Kerich. “We are now seeking court intervention to auction these properties to the highest bidders.”
In addition to seeking court orders, the county is working with the Ministry of Lands to place caveats on affected properties.
The restrictions would bar landowners from developing, transferring, or using the properties as collateral until all pending rate payments are settled.
“Once confirmed by the Ministry, these caveats will ensure no transactions can happen on those properties without full compliance,” Kerich added.
According to the Finance CEC, only about 20 percent of landowners in Nairobi are compliant with land rate obligations—a shortfall he says is hampering the county’s ability to deliver essential services.
“If everyone paid what they owe, we’d have enough money to fix roads, stock hospitals with medicine, and provide water to all estates,” he said. “We need fairness from residents—and accountability from the county as well.”
Kerich noted that the enforcement will not end with the current financial year, stressing that court action against defaulters will continue beyond June.
“This is not a one-off. Even after June, enforcement will not stop. This is about civic responsibility,” he said.
The campaign is part of Nairobi’s broader effort to ramp up revenue collection before the close of the 2024/2025 financial year.
