A former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) director has announced that he is waiving rent for all his tenants indefinitely.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, March 24, former ODM Political Affairs Director Wafula Buke explained that it was paramount to waive the fee until the Coronavirus menace is contained.
He further disclosed that he makes Ksh20,000 monthly from his rentals as well as a hotel.
"They will not be paying rent because this issue is still terrorising people. My income is very small, One construction is in Cheptais, a hotel. They pay me Ksh 6,000 and then there is residential where they pay me Ksh 7,000. I am not an estate person, I only have three humble constructions.
"One is a hotel in a rural centre called Cheptais, there is also a place to sleep there. There is also a butchery. I make about Ksh20,000. We lived in prison and never invested in Nairobi," stated Buke
"The only other source of income is a hotel. If the hotel is shut, Then I will struggle. At least I have a place to sleep," he added.
All those establishments, he explained, are located in Bungoma.
The politician becomes the second landlord to waive rent for his tenants since the pandemic, which has infected Kenyans, hit the country.
After the state issued a directive that Kenyans who do not work in essential services to stay at home, several people complained that they depended on daily wages to cater for their families as well settle rent fees.
In the wake of the outcry, a landlord in Nyandarua County, Michael Munene, waived rent for his tenants for two months.
Munene, whose residential building comprises of 28 households, stated that he was ready to help his tenants as the country was going through a trying time.
"They have stayed in the houses for a long time and have been very cooperative in paying the rent. If the government was to order for a curfew due to the pandemic, where will the tenants get money to pay for rent?
"We are all struggling to stay alive. All we should be focused on right now is food. I have written letters to all my tenants and signed the agreement with them that they should not pay rent for two months," he stated.
