Simmers restaurant employees face off with City County officials over rates arrears

There was drama at Nairobi's central business district after employees of the famous Simmers restaurant faced off with County officials who had gone to take over the establishment.

The officers had gone to attach the building until Sh1.1 million in land rates owed to City Hall is settled by the owner.

Kimilili MP Suleiman Murunga, who was at the establishment wrote a two cheques to the county to settle the matter that nearly turned ugly.

The Rates Taskforce committee is targeting Sh60 billion in areas from properties in Nairobi.

“We are only charging Sh10,000 a year and our neighbour here has accumulated Sh1.1 million. What we are asking is that all property owners pay rates so that we give services to the residents,” the taskforce chair John Ntoiti said.

Mr Ntoiti added that since March, the County had collected Sh100 million from defaulters.

TOOK OVER OTHER BUILDINGS

City hall Officials also took over Prudential Assurance Building owned by Sielei Limited over a Sh1.8 million rent arrears.

The caretaker of Prudential Building, who gave his name only as Patrick, said he had not been served with a formal notice.

“They told me verbally to pay by Tuesday and I explained that we would pay by the end of the week. It is so unfortunate how the County is treating us,” he said.

City Hall is charging an additional Sh50,000 as administrative fee once they clamp any property for defaulting on land rates.

The operation has covered 70 per cent of the central business district and City Hall has now cast its net to the outskirts of the city.

About 50 properties have been taken over since late last year with City Hall officials claiming that Sh700 million had been recovered.

In March 2015 Governor Evans Kidero had also warned of possible arrests of defaulters of licenses as the county seeks to raise money from its debts.