Nairobi property owners will face new land rates from January 1, 2027, following the publication of a Gazette Notice outlining the charges to be paid by owners of residential, commercial and agricultural properties across the city.
The Nairobi City County Government, through the Built Environment and Urban Planning Lands Sub-Sector, published Gazette Notice No. 14353, setting out the rates payable by ratable property owners for the 2027 financial year.
The notice was issued under the National Rating Act, 2024, and signed by Patrick Mbogo, the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning.
“Notice is given to all ratable owners and the general public that land rates levied by the Nairobi City County Government for the year 2027, shall become due on the 1st January, 2027, and shall be levied as follows,” the notice states.
Flat-rate charges
For properties falling under Nairobi’s flat-rate zones, the annual charges will be determined by the size of the land.
Owners of parcels measuring not more than 0.1 hectares will pay KSh2,560 per year.
Those with land measuring more than 0.1 hectares but not exceeding 0.2 hectares will pay KSh3,200 annually, while parcels measuring more than 0.2 hectares but not exceeding 0.4 hectares will attract KSh4,000.
Land exceeding 0.4 hectares will attract an annual rate of KSh4,800.
New rates for valued properties
For privately and publicly owned properties that have been valued, Nairobi County has set a uniform rate of 0.115 per cent of the Unimproved Site Value (USV) based on the 2019 Draft Valuation Roll.
The rate applies to three major categories.
- Residential plots: 0.115 per cent of USV annually
- Commercial plots: 0.115 per cent of USV annually
- Agricultural plots: 0.115 per cent of USV annually
However, the county has introduced a cap to cushion property owners from sharp increases arising from the new valuation.
Where the new rate is lower than the rate payable in 2022, the property owner will continue paying the 2022 rate.
Where the new rate is more than double the 2022 rate, the owner will only be required to pay double the 2022 rate.
Owners who challenged valuation rates spared
Property owners who had already objected to the new rates contained in the 2019 Draft Valuation Roll will not immediately be subjected to the revised charges.
The county said such owners will continue paying their previous rates pending determination of their objections.
“All Ratable Owners who had objected to the new rates as per the 2019 Draft Valuation Roll shall continue paying the old rates pending the hearing and determination of their respective objections by the Valuation Board,” the Gazette Notice states.
The county has also directed owners whose land has not been valued, or whose properties are missing from the Draft Valuation Roll, to seek guidance from the Chief Valuer at City Hall.
Sectional property owners get new directive
The notice further introduces a requirement for sectional title holders to open individual land rates accounts.
“Be notified too that sectional title holders must now open individual rates account,” the county stated.
The directive is expected to affect owners of individual units in developments registered under sectional property arrangements, bringing their rates accounts into the county’s system.
Nairobi County said property owners can obtain more information through its Customer Care Centre or download their rates invoices through the Nairobi services portal.
The notice comes as the county government seeks to strengthen land-rate collection and improve its revenue base amid growing demands for funding to support services and development across Nairobi.
