The Nairobi County Revenue Department on Wednesday, May 14, clamped down on the Grand Lodge of East Africa’s Freemasons’ Hall over alleged land rate arrears as the crackdown on defaulters intensified.
Health CEC Suzanne Silantoi led the operation, which was part of a wider move by the county government targeting rate defaulters.
According to the revenue department, the Freemasons Hall on Nyerere Road had land rates debt amounting to Ksh19 million.
While addressing the press on Wednesday, May 14, the County Revenue Department, led by Chief Officer of the Governor Priscilla Mahinda and Chief Officer for Housing, Lydia Mathia, insisted that due process was followed in the closure of the hall.
Part of the due process followed included the issuance of demand letters and notices before finally resorting to enforcement action.
“This particular premises owes Nairobi County over Ksh19 million in land rates arrears,” Silantoi said during the raid.
Silantoi further added that the crackdown on land defaulters would not end with the clamping down of buildings, as the County Revenue Department also revealed plans to disconnect services, including water and sewer lines.
Located on Nyerere Avenue, the Freemasons Hall is a historic building which hosts a variety of events and functions related to masonic activities.
Through their regular lodge meetings, members are able to engage in discussions, meetings and, at times, rituals while reinforcing the values of freemasonry.
As far as county revenue is concerned, Nairobi has been struggling, largely because of the soaring wage bill. This situation has been exacerbated by shortcomings in the payment of land rates.
Of the 256,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only 50,000 are currently up to date - a statistic which seems to justify why the county government has resorted to enforcement operations.
The blow to Freemasons came just a day after the county government closed down four buildings in the central business district over unpaid rent and promised to shut down more structures in the coming days over the same issue.
Nairobi County's Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, said that those affected have failed to honour their part despite the county giving them time to show goodwill in paying the arrears.
