Africa-Press – Kenya. Kiambu County, led by Governor Kimani wa Matangi, has been put on the spot after the county senator, Karungo wa Thang’wa, raised an alarm over unexplained land rates in the county.
Appearing before the Senate’s Standing Committee on Lands, the senator alleged that residents had been subjected to hiked land rates without prior notice or public participation.
According to the senator, the county is facing an arbitrary increase in land rates without proper legal process, transparency, or public participation, as mandated by the Constitution and the National Rating Act of 2025.
“Residents of Kiambu have reported a surge in land rates with no explanation, no notice, and no access to the valuation roll used to determine the charges,” the senator said.
The senator, who is now seeking a statement from the committee, is accusing the county leadership, led by the governor, of violating the principles of fairness, equity, and accountability in public governance.
While demanding accountability and a proper explanation, the senator now wants the county government to disclose whether a valuation roll exists, who prepared it, and when it was prepared.
The senator also wants evidence of public participation that led to the increased land rates and the legal basis used to calculate the current rates. The issue has sparked outrage among Kiambu property owners, many of whom claim they have been blindsided by the increase.
The senator questioned why residents are being forced to pay significantly higher land rates despite poor or non-existent service delivery, including road maintenance and waste management.
“It is unacceptable that citizens are being billed for services they do not receive. We will not allow the people of Kiambu to be overburdened by opaque taxation,” he emphasised.
The statement now awaits a formal response from the Chairperson of the Committee on Lands, who will be expected to investigate and provide clarity on the county government’s compliance with the law.
As tension mounts within the county over the land rates, all eyes are now on the governor and the entire leadership to address the concerns swiftly and uphold transparency in governance.
The issue of land rates in counties always proves to be a major issue, with business owners and counties brushing over the balance to raise county revenue and sustain businesses in the counties.
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