Rent waivers have been a topic on the tongues for many Kenyans who are struggling to raise funds for food, shelter and healthcare should need arise.
For a while now, Kenyans have been crying out to the Government to compel landlords to waive or suspend rent for the next three months to avoid sad situations whereby tenants are thrown out of their shelter due to late or zero payment.
However, Government has now said that the state is not at liberty to compel landlords to waive rent or otherwise. Speaking to Standard Media, Treasury CS Ukur Yattani disclosed that forcing landlords to waive rent could slow down the real estate industry which is a source of livelihood for a number of estate owners.
“We decided that that (rent waiver) could destroy the industry,” stated Yattani. He added that the state had so far intervened through VAT waiver on goods and a total waiver for PAYE for employees earning below Sh. 24,000. This he said was aimed at improving the income of low earners hence improving their ability to cover their bills.
The fate of the cluster of Kenyans who have since been laid off due to the corona crisis is yet to be established. Most Kenyans especially those working in the hotel industries suffered the most after the social distancing directive from Government saw the closure of hotels, restaurants and all other entertainment joints.
In the past week, the Landlords and Tenants Association had hinted at a mandatory waiver or dismissal of rent for a given period should they come to agreement with the state.
