COVID-19: Jaguar urges Uhuru to stop landlords from evicting tenants

Starehe Member of Parliament Charles ‘Jaguar’ Njagua on Thursday April 9, urged President Uhuru to take the same stance as Uganda President Museveni on rent to help Kenyans.

The legislator asked Uhuru to stop landlords from evicting Kenyans who are struggling to pay rent as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

“I urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to take a similar stance on rent as @kagutamuseveni. Museveni has stopped evictions in Uganda. Let's ban them as well. Most Kenyans aren't going to work. They have little to spare for rent. Also, govt should protect landlords from auctions by banks,” pleaded the MP.

Jaguar stated that evicting Kenyans at such a time could pose a ‘health and security risk’ that the country cannot afford.

He added that most Kenyans will turn to crime as they try to find means to fend for their families.

“Evictions of tenants, while we are facing this crisis, is a health & security risk that we can't afford. How will they obey curfews when they are out in the cold? Some will turn to crime out of desperation to fend for their families. Let us avoid such risks by banning evictions,” he added.

The MP also urged some landlords to waive rent for those who cannot afford, asking the other tenants who can afford pay the rent.

In the past couple of days, news of landlords evicting tenants the headlines. In Eldoret, one landlady removed a tenant’s roof for failing to pay Sh500 rent arrears.

Another landlord in Weitethie, Kiambu County, removed the doors of his tenants and disconnected electricity and water after they failed to pay rent.

In March, Michael Munene, a landlord in Kinangop Nyandarua County was commended by netizens online after waiving two months' rent for both his residential and commercial units.

Munene said that he understands the economic situation since the pandemic hit the country; that's why he decided that his tenants won't pay rent for two months, March and April.