KIRINYAGA: County Government to repossess 7,000 plots on defaulting rates

The Mountain Journal

The County Government of Kirinyaga has begun the process of

repossessing land whose owners have not been paying land rates
and

ground rent.

The county government says that owners of about 7000 plots stand
to lose their properties on the expiry of a 30-day notice.

According to County Executive Committee Member for Lands,
Physical and Urban Planning, Samuel Kanjobe, that the property owners owe the
county over Ksh. 250 million in arrears.

He said the plots belonging to the county government were
allocated to current owners but have not been paying land rates and ground
rent as stipulated in the agreement.

Kanjobe said the defaulters have until March 31 to pay all the
levies and arrears failure to which the land, plus any development on it
will be taken over by the government.

He asked the defaulters to take advantage of the remaining days
to clear their arrears.

“This time, the government is determined to take back its land
from those who were given the plots but have not been honouring their part
of the obligation,” he said.

The county government has intensified its revenue mobilization
initiative through a campaign “Mapema Ndio Best”. The campaign seeks to
ensure 100 percent compliance on payment of all trading licenses by
March 31.

Governor Anne Waiguru has asked traders and property owners to
pay for their trading licenses to enable the government to deliver services.

“We are asking all the traders and property owners to pay all
due licenses and levies so as to enable us to continue delivering services. Our
hospitals need drugs, we need to pay doctors, rehabilitate roads and
ensure an uninterrupted supply of water,” Waiguru said.

Land rates are levies imposed on all parcels of
land that belong to the

government. The levies are payable to the county governments.
Upon full payment of all rates, one is issued with the rates clearance
certificate which is conclusive evidence that all rates due and interest accrued
have been fully paid.

At the same time, the CEC clarified that the county has not
increased the land rates as it was still using the municipal valuation roll.

He however said the department is in the process of developing a
new valuation roll that could see current land rates increased in the future.

A valuation roll is a public legal document containing property
information of all ratable properties.

Kanjobe said his department has already issued notices to the
defaulters.

“We have given people up to the end of this month to come and
pay their arrears. However, once the deadline lapses, we are going to
repossess land whose levies have not been paid for,” said Kanjobe.

Kanjobe the department has set up desks to handle cases of
default payment at the county headquarters and sub-county offices.