This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On May 1, nearly 70 percent of households in Kenya struggled to pay their rent, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the property market.
According to a national survey conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), 31.6 percent of households paid their rent on time, a significant drop from 41.7 percent in April.
Of those who defaulted, 37 percent were unable to pay rent, while 23 percent paid partially and 8.5 percent hoped to meet their landlord's obligations.
Government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, including the closure of bars and schools, have severely affected consumer spending, leading to job cuts and unpaid leave for workers.
As a result, the number of households that received waivers or relief on their rent fell to 6.7 percent in May, down from 8.7 percent in April.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had urged landlords to reduce rent to cushion Kenyans grappling with job losses, salary cuts, and unpaid leave.
Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani noted that the majority of households unable to pay rent cited reduced income or earnings as the main reason.
