City Hall partners with JamboPay for mobile rent payment

What you need to know:

The new platform is set to increase collection of rent from Nairobi’s 17,000 housing units in areas just outside the central business district.

Nairobi tenants can now pay rent at JamboPay agents and confirm the payments on their mobile phones.

Paul Nderitu, who is the head of agency at JamboPay, said the company contracted to collect money for the county has established agents similar to those of Safaricom's M-Pesa in all estates.

“Right now, you can walk to an agent and give them the estate and house numbers. The agent will establish your rent status and after you pay, you will get an SMS confirmation through your phone,” he said.

Mr Nderitu, who was speaking at City Hall on Tuesday, said that one can also go to the county e-wallet on the phone, dial *217# and select rent payment.

He said the launch of the agency is aimed at ensuring Nairobi becomes a cashless city.

The new platform is set to increase collection of rent from Nairobi’s 17,000 housing units in areas just outside the central business district.

The Eastlands area under the county government has 9,557 units on 2,000 acres with houses as old as 60 years in Kaloleni, Shauri Moyo, Makongeni, Ziwani Estate and Pangani.

City Hall plans to build over 100,000 housing units in Eastlands to cater for its 650,000 residents.

The county has already launched plans to put up modern housing under an urban renewal project with the first phase of 14,000 housing units at a cost of Sh40 billion having been advertised.

READ: Nairobi housing tenders open to all, says City Hall

The first phase will include New and Old Ngara, Pangani, Jevanjee Bachelors, Uhuru and Woodley estates.

JamboPay’s e-payment system has collected Sh3 billion for City Hall since its inception in September last year. According to City Halls ICT director Benta Ogot, many city residents have embraced the cashless payment and boosted revenue collection.

Ms Ogot said the system has stabilised after teething problems. She added that Sh1.5 billion had been collected for single business permits, Sh260 million from land rates, Sh1 billion from seasonal parking, Sh269 million for daily parking, house rent Sh93 million and market rates Sh260 million.