Nairobi City Hall has fired a bold warning shot to property owners dodging land rate payments. On Monday, May 19, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration seized the popular Kencom Parking Lot on Taifa Road, tucked behind the iconic Kencom building.
The private parking facility, a daily go-to for hundreds of motorists in the heart of the CBD, reportedly owes over Ksh41.1 million in unpaid land rates and an additional Ksh200,000 for an expired Unified Business Permit. The county is now running the show.
Kencom Parking Lot Crackdown Signals New Era of Enforcement
The seizure of the Kencom Parking Lot marks a serious shift in how the Nairobi County government is dealing with land rate defaulters. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has taken an aggressive stance, vowing to collect every shilling owed to City Hall.
On Monday morning, city revenue officers, accompanied by uniformed enforcers, descended on the facility and took control of its operations. This action was no surprise to insiders following a string of similar enforcement moves. The difference? The Kencom Parking Lot is a prime CBD asset, making its seizure both symbolic and strategic.
“This Kencom private parking lot owes the county Ksh41 million,” said Tiras Njoroge, the County Receiver of Revenue. “Starting today, we are taking over its operations to recover the money until the debt is fully paid.”
The county officials wasted no time. Signs went up, barriers were raised, and operations were shifted into the hands of county staff. The parking fees being paid by drivers are now going directly into the county’s coffers. For motorists, it’s business as usual. For the owners, it’s a financial and reputational blow.
Governor Sakaja defended the county’s move, emphasizing the need for accountability.
“We will no longer allow private owners to profit off public space while dodging their civic duties,” the governor’s statement read. “The money collected from land rates and business permits funds essential services like garbage collection, road maintenance, and public health.”
Seizure Part of a Wider Crackdown
Kencom Parking Lot is not an isolated case. The City County’s Revenue Department has been on a rampage, targeting influential landlords and high-value properties.
Just five days earlier, officials stormed the historic Freemasons’ Hall on Nyerere Road. The building, owned by the Grand Lodge of East Africa, was closed for owing Ksh19 million in land rates. The revenue team, led by Chief Officers Priscilla Mahinda and Lydia Mathia, insisted that all procedures were followed to the letter.
More properties faced the heat during the same week. A petrol station on Haile Selassie Avenue and a commercial building on Koinange Street were also clamped down. Combined, they owe the county more than Ksh10 million.
Health CEC Silantoi hinted that the crackdown will expand beyond seizures. The county plans to cut off water and sewer services to properties that default.
Business Owners Put on Notice
The Nairobi County Government is using the Kencom Parking Lot case to send a chilling warning to all business and property owners in the CBD and beyond.
Failing to pay land rates or renew a Unified Business Permit will no longer be tolerated. The days of negotiating behind closed doors and stalling enforcement are over.
An expired permit, which had lapsed in March 2025, was also cited in the Kencom Parking Lot case. The extra Ksh200,000 owed might seem small next to Ksh41.1 million, but it was enough to help tip the scales.
“We’re making it very clear,” said Njoroge. “Pay what you owe or we’ll come for your property.”
Revenue from permits and land rates is vital for a city that’s bursting at the seams. Roads need fixing. Drainage needs upgrades. Health services are under pressure. County officials argue that allowing a few wealthy individuals to skip their obligations cripples the city’s ability to serve its population.
Residents, meanwhile, have expressed support for the crackdown. Many feel it’s long overdue.
“If I have to pay my parking every day, why shouldn’t they pay their land rates?” said Peter Kariuki, a regular user of the Kencom Parking Lot. “It’s about time someone cleaned up the system.”
