The City Council of Nairobi will be auctioning its debtors' property and seize business premises in a bid to recover a Ksh 47billion debt owed to it in rate defaults. Last month the City Council took over the COMESA parking lot at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) over arrears in rates and fees that KICC owes the council.

Town Clerk Roba Duba said the council has prepared a list of 1000 business premises and 2000 property owners whose premises the council would take control of after expiry of a 28 day grace period that expires end of July. Duba said the council's image has been painted badly in terms of service delivery but they could not deliver service without finances to enable the services.

“We have to take action against the big government agencies first to reclaim the large amounts of money they owe us which has affected service delivery by the City Council,” Duba said, adding that Kenyans expect service and paint the Council negatively when it is the government that is not playing its part.

Government agencies that owed the council money in unpaid rates and service charges included the Central Bank of Kenya, Vigilance House and Parliament. The Council last month issued a warning to motorists who park at these buildings, telling them that they risk having their vehicles clamped if they do not pay the City Council parking ticket. The issue has since been resolved.

The Nairobi City Council says that the 100 billion debt is the reason behind the recent laxity in delivery of services. 60% of this debt is owed to the city council by the government.