Nairobi County's Revenue Department has shut down the Freemasons' Hall over unpaid land rates totaling Ksh19 million.
The crackdown conducted on Wednesday, May 14, was spearheaded by Revenue Team Leader Suzanne Silantoi and Chief Officer for Revenue Lydia Mathia.
According to the county officials, the move is aimed at recovering outstanding land rates from property owners throughout the city.
“This particular premises owes Nairobi County over Ksh19 million in land rates arrears. We will not only be clamping properties belonging to defaulters, but we are also moving to disconnect services such as water and sewer lines where necessary," Silantoi said.
County authorities confirmed that the action against the Grand Lodge of East Africa was carried out in line with legal procedures.
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According to Silantoi, this included the prior issuance of demand notices and public announcements urging compliance.
“Before any clamping is done, we issue demand notices and publish the same in local dailies instructing landowners to settle outstanding rates. Failure to comply gives us the legal mandate to clamp," she added.
Mathia noted that although the operation might inconvenience tenants, the county is legally empowered to suspend services on defaulting properties.
“Disconnection of such services is within the law. If you can’t pay land rates, how do you expect to benefit from county services? It is unfortunate that tenants may suffer due to their landlords’ negligence," she stated.
This closure comes days after MPs were locked out of their offices and parking spaces at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) due to unpaid rent.
In a letter dated Friday, May 9, addressed to KICC CEO James Mwaura, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) confirmed that it is in arrears of Ksh 50,770,421.57.
"The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is in contract with the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to provide accommodation and parking spaces for Members of Parliament. This relationship has lasted many years, and the PSC has always met its obligations, although sometimes there have been delays due to exchequer and budgetary constraints.
"You may recall that this Financial Year, the PSC has settled previous payments totalling Ksh134 Million, broken down into Ksh73 Million for the year 2023/2024 and Ksh61 Million for the current financial year up to December 2024," the letter read.
The PSC appealed for continued access to the facilities, including parking at COMESA grounds, while efforts are made to clear the debt.
