The Nairobi County Government under Governor Johnson Sakaja is now facing heavy criticism for its new strategy to collect land rates.
According to a statement by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, the county has adopted what he calls a militarized approach in its efforts to recover unpaid rates.
This method has caused distress among residents, church leaders, and business owners who say they are being harassed and forced to pay what they believe are extremely high rates.
Babu Owino expressed his concern on May 20, 2025, accusing the county government of turning to force instead of using fair and transparent systems.
He claimed that the money collected from this process may be ending up in the pockets of corrupt officials rather than being used to develop the city. His comments have sparked public debate and raised serious questions about the leadership of Governor Sakaja.
A major example of this harsh collection strategy is the seizure of a parking lot behind the Kencom building along Taifa Road. The property allegedly owed the county Ksh41.1 million in land rates and an extra Ksh200,000 for an expired business permit.
As a result, the Nairobi County Government took over the property and started collecting parking fees directly.
Tiras Njoroge, the County Receiver of Revenue, defended the move on May 19, saying the county would continue with such steps to force defaulters to pay up.
He also warned that they may begin publishing the names of those who have failed to pay and even take legal action where necessary.
These aggressive moves are part of the county’s plan to increase revenue, especially since only about 20% of the 256,000 registered land parcels are currently paying their rates.
However, critics like Babu Owino argue that this method is doing more harm than good. Small businesses and local residents are feeling the pressure.
Many are still recovering from economic struggles and now face threats of property seizures and public shame.
Churches are also reportedly being targeted, raising moral and ethical concerns about the fairness of the campaign.
Owino has pointed out that the county has failed to spend any of its budget on development projects, even as it spends a lot on non-essential items like travel. This adds weight to his claim that the collected money is not going toward improving services or infrastructure.
Public trust in the county government is now under threat. The use of enforcement officers to force payments has been viewed by many as an intimidation tactic. Instead of encouraging cooperation, the county appears to be creating fear.
The issue is also dividing politicians, with leaders like Babu Owino calling for transparency and a stop to what he calls a corrupt system.
The wider concern is that this type of pressure may push businesses to close, drive investors away, and leave many Nairobians worse off.
The bigger question remains whether the Nairobi County Government will change its approach or continue using force to raise money.
With rising public anger and growing political criticism, the pressure is on Governor Sakaja to explain where the money is going and to find a better, fairer way to manage the county’s finance.
