NMS, KRA Target 17,000 Nairobi Tenants With New Requirements

NMS boss Mohammed Badi (left) and KRA signage on a building.
NMS boss Mohammed Badi (left) and KRA signage on a building.
File

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has teamed up with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to hold a crackdown on some 17,000 city tenants.

In a notice carried in the dailies on Wednesday, May 26, the two organisations noted that the exercise would kick off before the end of this month.

The exercise is aimed at compiling inventory of the housing units run by the county government as well as instituting measures to ensure rent is paid on time.

"Notice is hereby given that Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in conjunction with Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intend to undertake an exercise to update the inventory of county rental houses and tenants residing in the said houses.

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A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) signage on a building
File

"The exercise will be conducted in May 2021," read the notice in part.

The notice further indicated that all the tenants would be required to provide original Identification Cards (IDs), rental cards, KRA Personal Information Numbers (PINs), the latest payment receipt and other relevant documents.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, an official attached to the county government estimated the number of tenants living in city-hall-owned houses to be around 17,000 individuals.

In the notice, the tenants were also reminded to pay their rent on time failure to which an enforcement action would be taken.

"Take note that all rent arrears must be cleared in full by June 30, 2021," warned the statement.

In April, KRA, together with City Hall announced that they would begin collecting rent directly from a section of Nairobi tenants thus bypassing landlords whose properties face seizure and auction

KRA had warned the landlords who defaulted on paying land rates and renewing business permits that they would lose their property once the deadline issued by the authority expired. 

The ultimatum lapsed on March 31, granting KRA the authority to dictate which action they would take over the landlords. 

This comes even as the National Police Service (NPS) proposed new rules targeting landlords in which they risk 2-year jail terms.

Former Police spokesperson Charles Owino disclosed that in an upcoming set of laws - landlords would be required to keep records of businesses in their premises and individual tenants.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) and NMS boss Mohamed Badi (left) at a Christmas event in Westlands, Nairobi on Friday, December 25, 2020
PSCU

He explained that the state had resorted to the move in its effort against the drug trade that has become rampant in the country.

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