By Ngumbao Kithi
The Mombasa Municipal Council has extended the deadline for payment of rates amounting to Sh1 billion to August 22.
Town Clerk Tubmun Otieno said the extension was a special Ramadhan offer.
“The deadline was supposed to be Tuesday this week, but we have extended the offer to August 22,” he said.
He said this was meant to respect residents, who are observing the holy month of Ramadhan.
Mr Otieno also announced the council was expecting to receive an extra Sh1.8 billion from the Kenya Power Company for the facilities put up in the town.
“The payment from Kenya Power Company will now be paid by the Treasury instead of the company,” he said.
The town clerk said the Treasury has accepted to release the money soon.
He warned that after the expiry of the deadline, the council would use legal mandate to auction property and recover the rates.
“I wish to remind Mombasa residents that this time around, the people who fail to pay rates are going to lose out since we shall sell their property to recover the rates,” he said.
Challenges
Otieno revealed the council was facing serious challenges following failure by locals to pay the rates.
“The only opinion is now to use the law to fight those who have failed to pay rates,” he said.
The Town Clerk said collection of the rates would allow council to serve residents better.
“If we do not work for just a day, this council will smell all over. This must not happen, we must serve the people,” he said.
Mombasa Municipal Council has a debt of Sh2 billion.
The bulk of the funds goes towards salaries of councillors and chief officers.
The council has 44 councillors.
