Undeveloped plots in Nairobi face repossession in fresh county push
The Nairobi City county government has issued a sixty-day notice to plot and land owners whose property remains undeveloped to pay their outstanding dues and demonstrate their willingness to develop their plots by submitting building plans for consideration.
In an advert in the local dailies, the acting City County Secretary, Godfrey Akumali, has warned that failure to adhere to the same will lead to the plots being repossessed by the County government and reallocated.
“The Nairobi City County Government hereby advises all those beneficiaries whose plots remain unpaid for and/or undeveloped to take note of the following: That they are required to pay all their outstanding plot dues and further demonstrate willingness to develop their plots by submitting building plans for consideration and approval by the Nairobi City County Government, within sixty (60) days of this notice,” Akumali stated.
“That failure to pay for the plots and submit building plans as herein advised will lead to their repossession and re-allocation by the county government without any further reference to them,” he added.
This is even as he advised Plot owners who have obtained leases/certificates of lease and whose properties are not enrolled in the county Valuation Roll should visit the sub-county valuation offices.
According to the Nairobi County administration, there are several plots within Nairobi City County site and service schemes, regularized informal settlements, and infills (county-allotted land) which remain unpaid for and undeveloped, contrary to their conditions offered.
They have reiterated that the allocated land to serve specific urban functions, in response to the prevailing needs of urban communities at the time of allocation, and should never be for speculative purposes.
“County-allotted land is offered under clear terms and conditions which, among other things, require the beneficiaries to pay all stipulated plot dues and carry out permissible development within 24 months of offer,” Akumali stated.
“Failure to pay for and develop county-allotted land is therefore contrary to the express terms and conditions of allocation and further renders the land economically inefficient as it does not serve the objectives of its allocation,” he added.
Further, the acting County Secretary has announced that beginning January next year, the county will discontinue use of plot numbers for purposes of levying land rates.
“All rate payment accounts will be based on land parcel numbers. To this end, county technical officers will be visiting all developed plots to label corresponding parcel numbers on property gates/doors for ease of billing,” he announced.
