Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member of Housing Dr. Janeth Kosgey says there is the urgency of ensuring that all the tenants residing in County-owned houses are known and all their data well captured and validated.
According to the CECM, the move will help eliminate fake tenants and ensure that revenue collection through rent is fully achieved.
The county has for the last few weeks been undertaken the exercise of validating the tenants who have also been signing tenancy agreements.
Dr. Kosgei has since acknowledged the success of the exercise. She pointed out that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has already achieved a great milestone in the exercise with the latest data captured at over 60% .
“We want to engage all our tenants and also get to know them well so that we do away with fake tenants who do not comply to our provided rules on house maintenance,” the CECM said
“Tenants have been registering daily at Ardhi House and due to the large numbers seen lately, we have extended the exercise by another 7 working days, to allow all interested persons to avail themselves,” she added.
Ghost Tenants
According to the Chief Officer Housing and Urban Development Julius Koech, the validation will provide a clear route to monitor the revenue stream and also incorporate communication to the tenants because the data taken is all inclusive.
“We are currently receiving data from tenants at Pioneer, Mayabi, Uhuru, Kamanda, Kuria, AMS and Tom Mboya. These are sources of county revenue hence data is key. Going forward we will be able to do away with ‘ghost’ tenants whose data has never been availed to the County Government in many years. We count this exercise as a big success,” said Koech.
In addition, Beatrice Menjo, Director Housing, noted that tenancy agreements provided will ensure that all those living in the estates pay their rent on specific dates without fail.
The agreements will also give clear guidance on penalties that will be accrued when rent is delayed.
Moreover, the tenancy agreement seeks to ensure property protection and alternatives to pay damages caused in the houses and eviction effected where arrears go beyond provided days.
“This is the final call for tenants to register with us. We have extended the period after which validation will close and evictions will be carried forth,” Menjo emphasised.
