The Nairobi City County is fully enforcing the provisions of
the newly implemented National Rating Act No. 15 of 2024, amid a city-wide
clampdown on properties defaulting on land rate payments.
The crackdown, now one week old, is expected to escalate
further.
Speaking as he briefed a multi-agency team that will
spearhead and accelerate the clampdown, the County’s Receiver of Revenue, Tiras
Njoroge emphasised that only a limited category of institutions is eligible for
rate exemptions under Section 38 of the Act.
“Not everyone is exempted, we only exempt public religious
worship places, cemeteries, crematoria, burial grounds, public health
facilities, and public educational institutions and libraries,” he confirmed.
He added that other exempted categories under the law
include dams, wayleaves, museums and national monuments, and public outdoor
sports grounds.
“All landowners who were previously exempted must now
reapply for exemption under the new law. Don’t wait for us, we shall clamp your
property,” he warned.
Tiras clarified that the ongoing operation is strictly
targeting revenue-generating premises that have failed to comply, not public
schools or hospitals, which remain genuinely exempt.
“We respect exemptions but cannot tolerate commercial entities hiding behind religious or public-use claims,” he stated.
The enforcement drive, which began earlier this month, has
already seen several properties clamped and their owners penalised.
Tiras announced that the operation will scale up over the
weekend through a multi-agency approach.
“Expect more individuals, including influential and
high-profile property owners, to be targeted. Everyone must pay what is due so
we can deliver services more effectively,” he affirmed.
The Nairobi County Government maintains that the
implementation of the National Rating Act 2024 is intended to streamline land
revenue collection, eliminate abuse of exemptions, and boost funding for
essential public services in the capital.
