Explainer: Understanding the emotive Nakuru Land valuation roll
An ariel view of Nakuru city.
The Land Valuation Roll has been an emotive issue among residents of Nakuru County, stirring fears of an increase in land rates.
Peter Palang’a, Member of County Assembly (MCA) Ol Karia, who is the Chairperson of the Land Committee at the Nakuru County Assembly, notes that the current Valuation roll was enacted in 2005.
“After 10 years, county governments are required to review their rating Act. In 2015, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua initiated the review which was completed in 2017, but was not gazetted due to the political tension caused by the electioneering period. During Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s time, it did not pass into law because it was again considered ‘a bad political move’.
He continues, “We therefore came up with the Nakuru County Valuation for Rating Act 2023. The act was approved by the County Assembly earlier this year before it was gazetted on July 8.”
Mr Palang’a further explains the processes before it becomes law.
“Currently, we are at the inspection period which allows individuals to confirm the locality, property owner, plot number and acreage of their land. If there is an issue, residents are required to fill the rate objection forms. The forms are available in all sub county offices. For those in Nakuru east sub county, you can find them in Old Town hall. After this a valuation roll court is formed, headed by a magistrate to look into all the challenges raised by the previous process.”
He however notes his concerns when it comes to people having to pay sh. 1000 when returning Rate Objection Forms saying that in his view, “If it is a matter of changing details, for example names, locality, then the county should not charge for that.”
Mr Palang’a insists that unlike what is being propagated on social media, what is currently ongoing is the verification process and not an introduction of higher land rates.
“People should be patient because as of now, there are no rates that have been attached to any property. The county assembly will put together the rates payable to each parcel of land and a public participation will be conducted before these rates are implemented,” he says.
The public inspection of the draft sub county valuation roll 2025-2035 has been ongoing from August 12 and will conclude on September 18.