The Nairobi County Government has launched a crackdown on property owners who have failed to pay land rates, following the end of a grace period that expired on April 30, 2025.
Governor Johnson Sakaja recently revealed that only 20% of the city’s 256,000 registered land parcels are compliant, calling the situation unsustainable. In response, Revenue Administration and ICT Infrastructure Chief Officer Tiras Njoroge announced that enforcement would begin today, Monday, May 12.
Njoroge said operations will include clamping non-compliant properties, issuing warning notices, and initiating legal action against chronic defaulters. He stressed that the county had already provided a waiver period to ease compliance, but many landowners failed to take advantage.
“We’ve extended every opportunity, but now we must act,” Njoroge said, adding that revenue from land rates is crucial for essential services such as garbage collection, healthcare, and road repairs.
The crackdown will initially target high-value areas like Westlands, Kilimani, Upper Hill, and the Industrial Area, before expanding to residential estates.
To improve transparency and accountability, the county may also publicly name defaulters. Nairobi’s updated data system allows real-time monitoring of rate compliance for all parcels, ensuring swift enforcement.
The county aims to recover over Sh10 billion in unpaid land rates, which it says will significantly boost service delivery and infrastructure development.
Property owners are encouraged to verify their status on the Nairobi Revenue Portal and settle outstanding arrears to avoid enforcement penalties.
