The Mombasa County government has announced a crackdown on land rate defaulters and clearances of the rates done illegally.

An internal audit by the county lands department has revealed that there have been fraudulent clearances of due land rates with or without the knowledge of the landowners.

Addressing the media at the governor’s office, the new County Executive Committee Member of the Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Renewal Mohammed Hussein Mohammed alias Amadoh said that the department will publicize a list of the affected land parcels in the coming week.

“We request landowners affected to provide an official payment receipt issued by the County Government of Mombasa and Bank or M-pesa payment proof within seven days of the public notice advertisement.”

“Failure of which the land rates clearance shall be revoked and figures reversed to the original default sum,” said Hussein.

This, he said, was also a warning to those who are fraudulently dealing with land owners.

“My department is taking measures to ensure we weed off such dealings and ensure accountability and transparency in the dispensation of service to the people of Mombasa,” Hussein said.

He said that it was crucial for all property owners to comply with their legal obligation to pay their rates on time.

According to the law, annual land rates should be paid by the 1st of January of every year.

He said that they have extended a grace period to enable those who have not yet paid their dues, to do so before end of March 2023, failure to which a penalty of 3% of land rate due will accrue monthly.

The county’s department of land was collaborating with the national government to automate land services in the county.

“We aim to provide digital land services that will enhance and streamline land transactions for property owners in Mombasa. Landowners are hereby advised to take advantage of the e-services portal to keep up to date on their dues,” he said.

He however noted with concern that over the last four months, Mombasa County Government has not received the statutory revenue allocation by the National Government that supports in service delivery to the people.

“Land rates is one of the own source revenue streams that will enable the county to finance development projects and enhance service delivery for all. Therefore, paying your land rates will go a long way to supporting the county government in enhancing service delivery for the people of Mombasa,” he said.

He added that the County is in the process of updating the land valuation roll and awaiting the outcome of the Valuation court.

The Valuation Roll is a record of data relating to all parcels of land in Mombasa, maintained primarily to support the land rate system.

The Valuation for Rating Act, provides authority to county governments to value land for purposes of rating. Under this law, urban authorities are empowered to prepare valuation rolls periodically, against which they can levy rates to rateable properties.

“It shall be in the best interest of property owners to ensure their dues are paid before the deadline so as not to pay the new land rates in this annual cycle,” Hussein said.

The current valuation roll has been in place since 1991.

In over 30 years, Mombasa has significantly developed into one of Kenya’s key urban cities.

“Updating the valuation roll for all property will enable the County Government to carry out better urban planning and increased revenue collection of land rates that will go into service delivery,” he said.