Nairobians Set To Benefit From KSh 224 Million Rent Waiver

224 million shillings waiver from City Hall on all county-owned homes are set to benefit thousands of Nairobians drowning in rent arrears.

The move comes after the tenants raised concern about constantly being threatened with evictions due to the outstanding rent balances.

According to County Finance Executive, Allan Igambi, he noted that the process of compiling a list of beneficiaries has been completed, pending the publication of an official gazette in accordance with the County Tax Exemption Administration Act 2013 from the city.

“The process to write off rent arrears owned by tenants in the county rental houses is going in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act if 2012, Section 1589 (a) (c) and Nairobi County Tax Waiver Administration Act of 2013,” said Mr. Igambi.

He added that the waiver will be written off from the county books once the above process is completed as it is now in the final stages. Only tenants with rent area that had accumulated from May 1^st, 2019 would receive demand notices.

The waiver targeted tenants with arrears due to the negative financial impact of Covid-19 and to put an end to the county being used by cartels who evict tenants and let in new ones at a fee.

Over 16,00 tenants owe City Hall 224 million shillings according to Nairobi Housing Director Marion Rono, a debt that has accrued in over six years.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko extended rent waiver for tenants residing in City County Government houses for six more months in October due to the Covis-19 pandemic.

Governor Mike said that his extension was drawn to the outcry from a majority of tenants occupying residential houses owned by the Nairobi County Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) regarding rent arrears.

“I do hereby extend the waiver earlier granted for a period of a further six months from the date of this letter, as our residents continue to recover economically from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic”, he added.

According to Director-General Mohammed Badi said that Sonko’s waiver was illegitimate as housing was one of the four functions transferred.