Nairobi landowners have been granted an extension until January 9, 2026, to clear outstanding land rates after the county noted a surge in last-minute payments.
The extension is aimed at reducing congestion at revenue offices and giving more residents a fair chance to regularise their accounts before strict action resumes.
Speaking at City Hall on Tuesday, Receiver of Revenue Tiras Njoroge explained that the waiver was extended to accommodate landowners who turned up before the previous deadline.
“We extended the waiver to January 9 purely to attend to the overwhelming queues we witnessed as the December 31 deadline approached. This is to ensure those who turned up in good faith are served. After January 9, the waiver will end, and the National Rating Act will be applied in full to all defaulters,” he said.
Njoroge emphasised that this festive waiver represents the last opportunity for landowners to settle accounts without facing stronger enforcement. “This waiver is the last soft landing. Once it ends, we will fully apply the law to recover outstanding land rates, including penalties and interest,” he warned.
He noted that the ongoing failure of many landowners to pay has unfairly placed a heavier load on the few who comply, affecting the county’s ability to provide essential services.
“It is not sustainable that only about 20 per cent of landowners are paying rates. Roads, waste management, health services and public lighting depend on this revenue. Everyone must contribute fairly,” Njoroge said.
Residents were also cautioned against fraudsters claiming to fast-track payments and reminded to use only official channels such as sub-county revenue offices and the Nairobi Pay platform.
Earlier, Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that only 50,000 of the city’s 250,000 registered land parcels are compliant, noting that the shortfall directly affects service delivery. He also indicated that strict legal measures, including property clamping, will target persistent defaulters once enforcement resumes.
With the January 9 deadline approaching, City Hall is urging landowners to act quickly, highlighting that improved compliance is key to fairness, higher revenue, and continued delivery of services across Nairobi.
