This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
On a rare display of empathy, a landlord in Nyandarua County has chosen to exempt his tenants from paying rent for four months.
According to reports, Martin Munene, a soft-spoken landlord, had initially offered his tenants a three-month rent waiver in April, citing their financial struggles.
Speaking at the weekend, Munene revealed that he would extend the offer by at least a month, stating, 'I have talked to some of these people and they have very many problems. So I decided to let them mainly worry about what they will eat. Some of them have been loyal to me for more than five years and it is my turn to return the favour.'
During the four-month period, Munene is estimated to have missed out on collecting approximately Sh400,000 in rent.
Notably, President Uhuru Kenyatta had previously urged property owners to be considerate of tenants facing financial difficulties, and Munene's actions seem to align with this call.
