The Nakuru Municipal Council will soon arrest fake landlords. Town clerk Wilson Maroa said former council employees allocated houses in the 1970s did not surrender them after retirement.

These former employees have rented out the houses charging the same fee as the private housing sector. "These self-proclaimed landlords are making a lot of money from the council's houses. A two-bedroomed house is charged at double the council fee which is Sh3,000," added Maroa.

The council is planning to ratify the valid occupancy of its houses. The clerk said they will track the details and scrutinise the records during the re-registration exercise to net the impostors.

The private housing sector provides more than 80 per cent of rental houses in Nakuru town. However, the council offers cheaper houses in 15 estates which include Baharini, Dedan Kimathi, Kaloleni, Kivumbini, Paul Machanga, Lower Misonge, Lumumba, Shauri Yako, Nakuru Press, Ojuke, Ngala flats, Moi flats and Flamingo Phase I and II.

"If we calculate how much has been lost, it will run to millions considering that these houses were handed out in the 1970s," Maroa said.