Nairobi Landlords to Lose Homes Worth Millions to KRA
An aerial view of a section of Ngara Estate in Nairobi
File
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and City Hall issued a joint notice to Nairobi residents which warned that the taxman was set to seize thousands of homes and office blocks in the city.
KRA said that it was going after those landlords who defaulted on land rate payments and urged them to remit the taxes lest they lose their property.
"You are supposed to have paid up all the rate fees for the plot, including any arrears owed to the Nairobi County Government.
The move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Nairobi County government and Somati Vehicles NV, a Belgian Company, on March 28, 2018 for phase II of the agreement between the two entities.
The Sh1.1 billion or 8.8 million Euros deal was later approved on December 23, 2020 paving the way for the commencement of the second phase.
This comes at a time when the county continues to suffer a spate of fire disasters which have led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.
In Phase I which began in 2016, the government of Belgium through KBC Bank NV –M/s Somati Vehicles, donated fire engines, ambulance vehicles, personal protection equipment, breathing apparatus sets, communication systems, construction of new fire station, training, spare parts and materials at a cost of more than Sh1.1 billion or 10 million Euros.
Acting Nairobi Governor Unveils First Ksh1.2B Mega Project
A file image of city hall
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City Hall unveiled a Ksh 1.2 billion megaproject that will save traders from losses and also curb the upsurge of fire disasters in Nairobi County. The donation was handed over to the county, under Acting Governor and Speaker Benson Mutura, by the Belgian Government on Monday, February 1.
Belgium is expected to upgrade the county's firefighting equipment to state-of-the-art standards after the two parties signed an agreement in March 2018.
Two years later, the deal was approved, allowing the Belgians to proceed with the second phase of the project after completing the first phase which was unveiled in 2016.
The meeting comes just over a week after Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura handed over the reins of City Hall to Ms Kananu ending his short stint as acting governor.
“We have been told there will be a cabinet meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at City Hall but the official invitation and the agenda will be communicated later in the day,” confirmed Health Services CEC Hitan Majevdia.
The cabinet will then retreat to Mombasa on Wednesday for a meeting with Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) team over the way forward for the city county.
This follows a similar meeting between NMS and Nairobi County Assembly in Mombasa last week over the state of the county.
This followed orders issued by the High Court on Monday temporarily suspending any planned swearing in of Ms Mwenda as governor.
ODM Director of Elections Mr Junet Mohammed said the party’s central committee will sit on Wednesday to settle on a nominee to present for the deputy governor position for Nairobi County.
Members of the committee already received their invitation to the meeting by the party’s Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen.
“Dear member, notice is here given of a meeting of the Central Committee to be held on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at 9.00 a.m. Venue will be communicated later,” read the communication.
Sonko Back In Court To Block Vetting Of Nairobi Deputy Governor
The circus revolving around the coveted leadership of Nairobi county continued this week after Mike Sonko moved to court to stop County Assembly from vetting and approving Anne Mwenda as the deputy governor.
In an application filed under a certificate of urgency, the former Nairobi governor is also challenging Cabinet appointments done by acting Governor Benson Mutura on Wednesday.
Through his lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the impeached governor is accusing Mutura of exercising unlimited powers of an elected governor.
According to Sonko, Mutura has no powers to appoint or dismiss any person in the county government. He says the appointments of Brian Weke as legal advisor, Paul Mutungi as chief of staff, Jairus Musumba as acting County Secretary and dismissal of Justus Kathenge are unlawful and in gross violation of the constitution.
Sonko goes to court, again, to challenge Mutura appointments nation.co.ke - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nation.co.ke Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Acting Nairobi governor reshuffles cabinet
Wednesday January 06 2021
Mr Benson Mutura after he was sworn in as acting governor of Nairobi on December 21. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NMG
By COLLINS OMULO
The reorganisation saw the return of former Nairobi Education Executive Janet Ouko to the previous position.
Ms Ouko, who resigned from the county government in January, 2019, replaces Lucia Mulwa, who incidentally took over the Education, Youth Affairs and Sports docket following Ms Ouko’s resignation.
Ms Mulwa will now head the Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock department which has been vacant since the sacking of the former holder of the position Winfred Kathangu last year.