President Uhuru Speaks About Rent

Coronavirus has destabilized the economy and many people have either lost their income with job cuts or have their salaries trimmed down as corporates struggle with the losses.

Its not known how long this disaster will go and with only 40 days into it, things are already getting stiff for the majority. In Kenya, the informal sector makes up for 70% of the workforce meaning all those are the jobs lost.

WHO is warning the the virus could further send underdeveloped countries into depression and deeper poverty.

In Nairobi and other major towns in the country, rent has become one of the biggest challenges with many landlords threatening tenants with evictions over unpaid dues. It has often been expected from the government to offer a stimulus plan that would cushion tenants for instance from the wrath of the landlords whom on the other end have to deal with banks in paying their mortgages.

While speaking on local radio stations on Wednesday, the President waded into the rent waiver debate, saying that the state respects private property and can only urge landlords to be humane by considering relief to tenants.

This leaves the struggling tenants in the mercy of their landlords. It has been suggested elsewhere that the two parties can have an agreement to postpone the bills and pay on a later date when things return to normalcy. A bill in senate to address the issue of debt alongside other economic cushions is still in the table.