By Jehoshaphat Kanyoro Njaro
In a decisive move, the Nairobi City County Executive Committee has approved the auctioning of properties that have outstanding land rates owed to the county.
This decision was reached during a cabinet meeting chaired by Governor Johnson Sakaja.Additionally, the committee has mandated the imposition of caveats on all properties with outstanding debts.
These caveats will prevent any transactions involving these properties, including subdivision, amalgamation, and transfer.
Moreover, the CEC has sanctioned the issuance of agency notices for properties generating rental income. Under this directive, tenants will be required to pay their rent directly to the Nairobi City County
Government until all outstanding rates are settled. This move follows the expiration of a second waiver on land rate penalties and interest, which was contingent on property owners settling the principal amount owed.
Governor Sakaja emphasized the need for the recovery process to be as efficient as possible, recommending that the county’s internal lawyers handle the proceedings to avoid incurring significant legal fees, which are usually based on the value of the disputed land.
Recently, the county government published a list of rate defaulters in the media, offering a one-month grace period to settle the principal amount while waiving interest and penalties.
This effort forms part of a broader strategy to enhance revenue collection and enforcement.As of today, Nairobi has collected Ksh. 3,255,969,569 in land rates against a target of Ksh. 7 billion, with two weeks remaining in the financial year.
The total revenue collected stands at Ksh. 12,262,100,000, setting a new record for county governments since the advent of devolution.
The previous record of Ksh. 12.1 billion was achieved in the 2015-2016 financial year.
Governor Sakaja commended the county’s revenue team for exceeding their target, particularly during a period when enforcement was suspended to allow clients to comply.
In another directive, Governor Sakaja has tasked the Environment sector with beautifying Langata Cemetery.
He acknowledged the sentimental value many Nairobi residents place on the cemetery and urged the ‘green army’ to use existing resources and plans from the City Park tree nursery to enhance the site.
Additionally, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance has been instructed to issue a circular with guidelines on both local and international travel for county officials, further streamlining operations and governance within the county.