The Nairobi Revenue Authority (NRA) has launched an enforcement drive targeting property owners who have fallen behind on land rates for more than three years. The authority warned that persistent defaulters could face property attachment and auction, Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) listing, and other legal measures to recover the debt.
To run the operation, the NRA appointed six specialized debt recovery firms to manage recoveries across Nairobi’s six boroughs.
In a statement on Thursday, July 30, the authority said it had started immediate debt recovery proceedings against owners with long-standing land rate arrears, including accumulated penalties and interest. It described the move as one of the county’s most aggressive revenue enforcement efforts.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county should not rely on small traders to finance public services while some landowners continued to default.
“Mama Mboga and small business owners have never failed to pay what is due to the county. However, many landowners have failed to pay what they owe the county,” he said.
Sakaja also noted that of 250,000 parcels, only 50,000 accounts had been opened and were paying their rates. He said the county had introduced installment plans to make compliance easier, adding that the process remains automated.
“We have even introduced installments to make payments easier. All of this is automated, so unless payments hit the accounts, no person can make an adjustment for you,” he said.
Six firms deployed across Nairobi’s boroughs
Under the deployment, Siuma Auctioneers will handle recoveries in the Western Borough, while Prysis Solutions Limited has taken charge of the Northern Borough. Jephys Auctioneers will manage the Central Borough, Boresha Credit Services Limited will oversee the South Eastern Borough, Quest Holdings Limited will cover the Eastern Borough, and AFS Holdings Limited will lead enforcement in the Southern Borough.
Governor Sakaja said the county can no longer depend on compliant residents while chronic defaulters avoid their obligations. “Mama Mboga, motorists and other law-abiding taxpayers have never failed to pay their dues. We cannot continue running this city on the shoulders of Mama Mboga alone. Everyone must pay what they owe the county so that we can continue providing quality services,” he said.
Receiver of Revenue warns of swift action
Nairobi Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge warned that the county would act quickly against persistent defaulters and that enforcement would proceed without further notice.
“Property owners in default are warned that failure to settle arrears immediately will trigger enforcement actions without further notice. Under the National Rating Act, 2024, enforcement measures may include property attachment and auction, Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) listing, and other statutory recovery actions,” Njoroge said.
He urged landowners to clear their outstanding balances immediately and said all payments must go only through authorized Nairobi City County revenue accounts.
The crackdown forms part of Nairobi County’s push to strengthen own-source revenue collection and improve compliance among property owners. County officials have repeatedly raised concern that only about 20% of the city’s roughly 250,000 registered property owners regularly pay land rates. They say the low compliance level leaves the county with major revenue gaps that it needs to fund service delivery and infrastructure development.
The authority said the enforcement exercise aims to promote fair compliance with the law while also improving the county’s ability to finance essential public services.
