Former Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has confirmed issuing an executive order exempting all religious organisations in Nairobi from paying land rates during his tenure.
In a statement on Monday morning, the former governor defended city pastor James Ng'ang'a, who called out the county government for reportedly trying to extort him through land rates arrears amounting to Ksh10 million.
Sonko further clarified that the executive order was still in effect and would only be declared null and void if a subsequent administration ordered so.
In the executive order, Sonko noted that mosques and madrasas, as well as homes for the aged, the poor and children's homes, were exempted from the same. Mama Mboga's licence arrears were also waived at the time.
"My attention has been drawn to a video clip of Pastor Ngang'a over the unpaid rates to the Nairobi City county government. Yes, the Pastor is right and without fear of contradiction, I vividly remember and do hereby confirm that I lawfully, through an executive order, gave a waiver to all religious institutions and organisations, including all mosques, madrasas, churches, and even homes for the aged, the poor and children's homes," he confirmed.
"I extended waivers to Mama Mbogas, whose license arrears were also waived. All the waivers were done according to county bylaws and are valid unless revoked by my successors."
In his impassioned address to the county over the weekend, the pastor claimed that the Johnson Sakaja administration had not cancelled the waiver since taking office.
"I was given a letter by Mike Sonko, who gave us a waiver on churches in town. I have the papers. Since you came into office, you've never given us a letter to cancel it," the pastor insisted.
"Write me a letter cancelling the waiver given by Mike Sonko, who was the governor. I've not declined to pay. Write me a letter saying you've revoked the waiver. You charge me your own rates through a letter. If you want cash, I'll give you cash."
Dismissing the county's actions as politically motivated, the Neno Evangelism Centre founder claimed that Ksh10 million was just a drop in his wealth, merely the price of his shoes.
He further accused the county government of an organised scheme to extort money from long-standing institutions in the county, citing the recent closure of the Freemasons' hall earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, Nairobi County's Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, has embarked on a crackdown seeking to recover billions of shillings in unpaid land rates, noting that those affected have failed to honour their part despite the county giving them time to show goodwill in paying the arrears.
Reportedly, of approximately 256,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only 50,000 are currently paying land rates, representing an alarming compliance rate of just 20 per cent.
