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Kidero seeks Senate help to collect Sh61.5bn debts

By LILLIAN MUTAVI September 28th, 2016 1 min read

The Senate has been asked to help the Nairobi City County government to collect a Sh61.5 billion debt from the national government.

The petition by Governor Evans Kidero through a letter dated June 30, to the Clerk of the Senate urges the House to intervene on the accumulated debt for land rates and parking.

Dr Kidero said the debt had crippled service delivery in the county as it has caused a strain on revenue despite hosting the national government and its facilities on 40 per cent of its area.

“The Senate should facilitate structured negotiations between Nairobi County and the Defence ministry and other concerned national government ministries towards ensuring payment to the city of the sum owed to it of Sh61.5 billion,” reads the petition.

HIGHEST DEBT

The county government said the highest debt is by the Defence ministry, Sh60.2 billion incurred in 1997, when the defunct city council bought land from Kayole Estate Ltd.

Dr Kidero explained that the Department of Defence applied to be allocated 988 acres of the land on condition that it pays the council a standing premium of Sh40 million within 30 days.

The department took possession of the entire property without paying the premium, said the governor.

County communications officer Walter Mong’are, who addressed the media at City Hall, took issue with Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery for reportedly saying that the government would not pay the money owed.

“We are a serious government and will not be involved in a circus by the national government let them pay us our money. We are not a junior government and we would want the national government to treat us well,” he said.