Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday forcefully took over the management of some buildings in the Central Business District (CBD) over rate arrears.
During the exercise, county officials went around the city putting the notices on defaulters' properties, attracting attention from curious onlookers.
In one instance, Shretta House along Kimathi Street, that is run by S.A Mutual Life Society Building, was put under the management of the Nairobi City Council over arrears amounting to Kshs 712,559.
"In the matter of section 18 of the Rating Act and in the matter of attachment of Rent by Nairobi City County, notice is hereby given that S.A Mutual Life Association Society LTD Building on LR No 209/606 is hereby put under management of Nairobi City Council from 22/11/2018," read the notice put up by county officials.
The county government also took over management of Brighton Hotel along Tom Mboya Street for arrears amounting to Kshs 676,802.
In a Facebook post, Sonko noted that the county government relied majorly on locally generated revenue for effective service delivery to Nairobi residents.
He commended those who paid their taxes to the county government without fail.
"..but I’m urging those who have not been paying taxes including land rates to comply as soon as possible before the long arm of the law catches up with them," he warned.
According to section 18 of the Rating Act, the rating authority (the county government) has the right to deploy measures to recover rent including interest accrued.
"If any rate or any part thereof remains unpaid after the day on which the same became payable, the rating authority may serve upon any person paying rent in respect of any land on which such rate was levied or any part thereof to the person from whom the arrears are due, a written notice stating the amount of such arrears,
"...and requiring all future payments of rent (whether the same have already accrued due or not) by the person paying the rent to be made direct to the rating authority until such arrears and interest have been duly paid and such notice shall operate to transfer to the rating authority the right to recover, receive and give a discharge for such rent," the act reads in part.
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