Kenya, May 15 -- In a surprising action that has caused a lot of talk in Nairobi, the county government closed the famous Freemasons' Hall on Nyerere Road on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. This step was taken because the Freemasons had not paid KSh 19 million in land rates.
This closure is part of a larger plan by the county to collect money that is owed, which totals billions of shillings. It has led to many discussions online and raised questions about fairness, even for this secretive group.
The Freemasons' Hall, known for its beautiful architecture and mysterious meetings, was shut down by officials led by the Health County Executive Committee Member, Suzanne Silantoi.
She was joined by Chief Officer for Housing, Lydia Mathia, and another Chief Officer, Priscilla Mahinda. Silantoi emphasized that the county wants to make sure all property owners follow the rules, no matter who they are.
"This building owes KSh 19 million to Nairobi County," Silantoi said during the operation, according to reports from The Star. She added that they would also cut off services like water and sewer lines if necessary.
This closure comes after months of efforts by Nairobi County to deal with a lack of revenue, which has become worse because many property owners are not paying their dues.
Records show that out of 256,000 registered land parcels in Nairobi, only about 50,000, or 20%, are up to date on their payments.
This low rate of payment has made it hard for the county to provide important services like healthcare, garbage collection, and infrastructure development.
Because of this, Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration has chosen to take strong action.
County officials made it clear that closing the Freemasons' Hall followed all legal steps. "Before we close any property, we send demand notices and publish them in local newspapers, telling landowners to pay their outstanding rates," Silantoi explained, as quoted by Capital FM.
The Freemasons, which includes well-known figures like lawyer and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, reportedly received multiple reminder letters and public notices over the past months but did not pay the KSh 19 million they owed.
Lydia Mathia mentioned that while this enforcement may trouble tenants, the law allows the county to take such actions on properties owned by those who do not comply.
The closure of the Freemasons' Hall is part of a wider crackdown that started on Monday, May 13, targeting property owners across Nairobi's Central Business District and other affluent areas like Westlands, Upper Hill, Kilimani, and Industrial Area.
On Tuesday, four buildings in the Central Business District were closed for unpaid rates, with officials warning that 20 more properties would be shut down the next day.
Nairobi County's Receiver of Revenue, Tiras Njoroge, who has been leading this effort, expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from defaulters.
"We've given them enough time to pay, but they haven't," Njoroge told Citizen Digital.
The closure of the Freemasons' Hall highlights a larger financial problem facing Nairobi County. Land rates make up about 25% of the county's own revenue, which is crucial for funding public services.
However, with only one in five landowners paying, the county is facing issues with high salaries, stalled projects, and difficulties in service delivery.
County officials believe that through this ongoing crackdown, they could recover up to KSh 10 billion in unpaid land rates, which they say is essential for improving the city.
The closing of the Freemasons' Hall has caught special attention because of the organization's mystery and historical value. Built in the early 20th century, this building is one of several important places in Nairobi made by the Freemasons. Their architectural work also includes Parliament, Nairobi County Hall, and All Saints' Cathedral.
The Freemasons have always been a topic of intrigue and speculation in Kenya, especially with wealthy members like Rachier. The shutdown has led to a lot of reactions on social media, especially on X, where many Kenyans expressed surprise and humour.
One user wrote, "Nairobi Freemason Hall has been shut down for KSh 19M in unpaid land rates. How could such a 'powerful' and 'secretive' group fail to pay their bills?" This post received a lot of engagement.
Others questioned the group's money management, with one comment saying, "So are you saying that Kenya only has poor people who can't pay rent, making them get locked out? I thought Freemasonry was about wealthy men and women. What's happening?"
Some people defended the Freemasons, saying that the closure should not be seen as a failure of the organization.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.