Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has called on Land Rates defaulters to take advantage of the ongoing one-month waiver period to clear their debts.
The county announced a 100% waiver on interest (penalties) for all land rate defaulters in the city. The waiver period runs from September 15, 2020 to October 15, 2020.
The National Assembly,Parliament, defense department, treasury and police remain the top defaulters.
The county is owed Sh 25 billion by the department of defense,Sh 23 billion by treasury and parliament Sh 396 million.
The amnesty period would only be applicable for those who paid their outstanding rates in full within one month, from September 15, 2020 to October 15, 2020
“The ratepayer must clear in full the total principal land rate and pay 10% administrative costs based on interest amount payable,” the statement read in part.
Subsequently,governor Sonko has warned land rate defaulters that upon failure to pay, legal consequences would be instituted including compelling land rate defaulter’s tenants to pay directly to the County Government until the land rates and interest due are fully paid.
“It is important that we take advantage of this friendly offer from the county and clear the debts without much push and pull,” Sonko said
Sonko also said that the defaulters also face cancelling or withdrawal of any license/permit granted in the premises in which land rates have not been paid.
The county boss further stated that charges would continue to accumulate on the properties over unpaid rates plus interest until the full amount is cleared.
“If one fails to pay, remember the charges will accumulate and you may end up paying more,” Sonko added.
Additionally, defaulters with pending cases in court for recovery of rates arrears would, in addition, be required to pay the legal costs incurred.
In 2019, the Nairobi County revenue collection revealed that it was owed over Ksh 120 billion in land rates by government and private entities.
In the same year, only 150, 000 properties were confirmed to be paying land rates out of more than 1.5 million properties in the capital.
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