Lobby wants Kajiado county to comply with court order on land rates

A lobby group has now written to the Kajiado County Government to stop levying rates on freehold land owners in line with a court directive.

Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui claim the county government is defying court orders by continuing to impose irregular demands for rates.

Last year in October, the High Court declared unconstitutional, null, and void: the imposition of land rates under Part 2 of the 8th Schedule of the Kajiado County Finance Act, 2023 as applied to trading centres and adjudication areas.

Some of the urban areas that have been spared the rates include the outskirts of Ngong, Matasia, Kiserian, Rongai and Kitengela towns, where the Court faulted the County for imposing land rates without providing any attendant services.

Lady Justice Loice Komingoi of the Environment and Land Court ruled that the move by the county government lacked public participation, rendering it unconstitutional.

The court also overturned any variation of land rent from that prescribed in letters of allotment; and all decisions and correspondence emanating from the Revenue Department, including the letter stamped 1st January 2025, purporting to impose or vary land rent and rates within Kajiado County.

“Notwithstanding the clarity of these orders, residents of Kajiado North continue to face persistent and unlawful demands for payment of Sh7,500, contrary to the Court's express determination that any charge in excess of Sh1,500 is unlawful,” Wambui states.

In a letter dated February 3, 2026 and addressed to the Director, Revenue, Land Rent and Rates Unit of Kajiado County, the lobby group claimed that one of the revenue officers has issued demands on rate payment contrary to the court verdict.

The lawyer said that residents are demanding immediate cessation of all unlawful demands, the withdrawal of any outstanding illegal assessments, and the issuance of clear instructions to all revenue offices and officers to ensure strict compliance with the Court's orders.

“Take notice that any further demand, enforcement, or collection of land rent or rates in contravention of the judgment and decree of January 19 2026, shall attract immediate contempt of court proceedings, to be instituted against the responsible officers personally, in addition to the County Government, without further reference.”

It concluded, “We expect prompt and faithful obedience to the Court orders, and any continued defiance will result in contempt proceedings seeking the committal to civil jail of the responsible individual. Be guided accordingly.”