President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to property owners to reduce monthly rent for their tenants following the financial crisis that has been occasioned by coronavirus outbreak.
Addressing the nation on Monday, the President said the landlords/ladies should emulate their counterparts in sharing the heavy burden of the current pandemic.
βIn that regard, I urge others to emulate these acts of personal and financial sacrifice. This is a time for compassion and understanding,β said President Kenyatta.
Michael Munene, a Nyandarua county landlord, won the admiration of many Kenyans last month after he waived his tenants rent for two months. Some other property owners have followed suit though some continue to issue notices demanding rent arrears.
βI note with appreciation that some property owners have reduced monthly rent to help provide a roof over the heads of our vulnerable brothers and sisters,β Kenyatta said.
According to the 2019 census, at least 61 per cent of Kenyans own houses.
At the same time, the President directed the Nairobi Metropolitan Service, to not only continue but also expand their provision of free water to all the informal settlements.