Governor Mike Sonko is showing his philanthropic and caring trait once more. This time he has extended a waiver on the rent payable to the Nairobi City County for another six months to cushion struggling city residents from the negative economic impact, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter to the County Secretary and Head of County Public Services Justus Kathenge Sonko said his attention has been drawn to the outcry of the majority of the county tenants.
The Governor noted that Kenya has not been spared from the negative social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and Nairobi has been the epicentre of the disease in the country.
“Nairobi City County is not a profit-making organization, but rather established by the Constitution of Kenya to serve the public. Therefore, I do hereby extend the waiver granted for a period of a further six months as our residents continue to recover economically from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic,” directed Sonko.
The residents were complaining of persistent harassment by officers from Kenya Revenue Authority and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) over arrears.
John Momanyi, a resident of Jamhuri Estate claimed they have been harassed for some time and Sonko’s intervention came at the right moment.
“We have been having sleepless nights for being harassed by the officials from KRA and NMS. Our calls for help are not being answered and that is why we have asked the governor to step in,” stated John Momanyi, a resident of Jamhuri Estate.
President Uhuru Kenyatta while addressing the nation in April had appealed to landlords to reduce rent for their tenants.
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When the covid-19 pandemic began, the government made it clear that the state would not compel landlords to waive rent but they were free to do it on their own.
The county government has more than 16,000 houses and plans are already in place to upgrade them into modern buildings.
