Counties

17,000 tenants in Nairobi County houses face eviction over arrears

housing

Nairobi County government houses in Embakasi Village on November 27, 2013. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Thousands of tenants risk being evicted from the Nairobi County government's rental houses for failing to clear two-year rent arrears worth more than Sh100 million.

Acting County Secretary Leboo Ole Morintat on Tuesday gave the tenants, who number about 17,000, up to February 5 to clear the arrears.

Those who fail to pay risk being kicked out of the houses, which he said will be re-allocated to other deserving people.

“Notice is hereby given that all tenants living in Nairobi county rental houses with accumulated rent arrears should clear the same with immediate effect,” said a notice signed in a newspaper by Mr Ole Morintat.

He added: “Rent is payable either in advance on or before the beginning of every month. Be advised that failure to clear the rent arrears by 5th February, 2018 will lead to distress for rent, repossession and reallocation of the houses without any further reference.”

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Revoke transfer or subletting

The acting county secretary also indicated that the county government will revoke rental agreement with any tenants found to have either illegally transferred or involved in subletting the county rental houses.

“Such transfers will be revoked, repossessed and re-allocated to other deserving residents of Nairobi without further notice,” warned Mr Ole Morintat.

He stated that the county would not tolerate illegal cases of tenants subletting houses on paying an amount of prerequisite fees.

“Members of the public are also hereby advised that Nairobi City county government has a laid down procedure of transferring county rental houses,” he said.

Mr Ole Morintat added: “It is illegal to irregularly transfer, trade in, assign and sublet any county rental house. Any transfers done without following due process including payment of prerequisite fees are un-procedural, null and void,”

Two years ago, the county launched Sh60 billion project to demolish and construct new housing units in Jeevanjee, Bachelor Quarters, Pangani, Old and New Ngara estates.