NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi County has launched a crackdown on land rate defaulters, targeting buildings in the Central Business District in a bid to recover billions of shillings in unpaid dues.
The operation, spearheaded by Nairobi County Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge, marks the beginning of a wider campaign aimed at property owners who have long evaded their statutory obligations.
Several buildings in the CBD were clamped on Tuesday after racking up arrears running into hundreds of millions of shillings.
“We’ve given them ample time to show goodwill in payment, but they have failed us,” Njoroge said during the operation. “Today we clamped several properties in the CBD, and tomorrow we’re moving into high-end residential and commercial areas. This is just the beginning.”
County records reveal a dire situation: of the roughly 256,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only about 50,000 are actively paying land rates—a paltry 20% compliance rate.
Njoroge said if even half of the defaulters met their obligations, the county would easily collect billions in revenue and reduce its reliance on government bailouts.
“This level of non-compliance is unsustainable,” he added. “Eighty percent of landowners don’t pay their dues, yet they still expect roads, garbage collection, street lighting, and other essential services. That’s not how a city should work.”
The move comes amid growing financial pressure on the county, which continues to grapple with a ballooning wage bill, stalled projects, and persistent service delivery failures—issues that are closely tied to revenue shortfalls.
City Hall has previously attempted to recover unpaid land rates through amnesty programs and public appeals, but with little success.
This latest enforcement campaign signals a tougher approach, with county sources revealing that a comprehensive list of defaulters has been compiled.
Legal and administrative teams are reportedly on standby to escalate the crackdown through property auctions and court action if the clampdown fails to compel compliance.
“This time we’re serious,” Njoroge warned. “We’re not just clamping. We’re ready to go to court, we’re ready to auction. Everyone must pay their fair share.”
The next phase of the operation is expected to hit affluent suburbs where high-value properties have also fallen into arrears.
