Sakaja Offers Year-End Land Rates Amnesty as Nairobi Faces Compliance Crunch

^{TANDAO MEDIA NEWS.}

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a two-week land rates waiver aimed at easing the financial burden on property owners and addressing a growing compliance crisis in the capital.

In a statement released Sunday, the Nairobi County Government confirmed that from December 15 to December 31, landowners who settle their outstanding land rates will benefit from a 100% waiver on accrued interest and penalties. The move is designed to encourage payments before stricter enforcement measures take effect in the new year.“This is an opportunity to correct any outstanding land rates you may have accumulated,” said Tiras Njoroge, Nairobi’s Receiver of Revenue. “Take advantage of the waiver, which wipes out 100 per cent of interest and penalties.”Njoroge warned that starting January 1, 2026, any unpaid balances will be treated as defaults, and defaulters will face enforcement actions without further leniency.

“Come January 1, it will not be business as usual,” he cautioned.The waiver comes amid troubling figures shared earlier this year by Governor Sakaja, who revealed that of the 250,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, fewer than 25% are compliant with land rate obligations. The governor emphasized that non-payment is undermining the county’s ability to deliver essential services such as road maintenance, waste management, healthcare, and public lighting.

The amnesty also precedes the implementation of new land rate charges set to take effect on January 1, 2026, under the National Rating Act, 2024.According to Patrick Mbogo, County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, the revised flat rate structure will impose the following annual charges: Ksh2,560 for land parcels up to 0.1 hectares, Ksh3,200 for parcels between 0.1 and 0.2 hectares and finally Ksh4,000 for parcels between 0.2 and 0.4 hectares.

The county has warned that persistent non-compliance will result in tougher enforcement, including the clamping of buildings and other punitive measures.Governor Sakaja’s administration hopes the waiver will not only provide relief during the festive season but also boost Nairobi’s own-source revenue, which is critical for sustaining county operations.