Property owners in Uasin Gishu County have been granted a reprieve after the county government announced a 100 per cent waiver on penalties and interest accrued on outstanding land rates.

Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim said the waiver will apply to all property owners who clear their principal land rates within the stipulated period.

In a public notice, the county government said the waiver, issued in line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, as well as Section 159 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and the Rating Act, will run until April 30, 2026.

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The notice indicated that the relief is conditional, with beneficiaries required to fully settle their outstanding principal land rates to qualify for the waiver on interest and penalties.

The county government urged property and business owners to take advantage of the window to regularise their accounts and avoid enforcement action after the deadline lapses.

“Property owners and business owners are therefore advised to take advantage of the waiver period… to settle all outstanding land rates and pay for business permits to avoid any inconvenience,” the notice stated.

The announcement also comes with an extension of the payment deadline for Single Business Permits, giving traders additional time to comply with county licensing requirements.

County officials said the move is aimed at boosting revenue collection while easing the financial burden on residents who may have accumulated arrears over time.

The waiver is expected to encourage compliance among defaulters and improve the county’s revenue base without imposing additional penalties.

Residents who fail to settle their dues within the waiver period risk incurring penalties and interest after the deadline.

Land rates are a key source of revenue for county governments, funding essential services such as road maintenance, waste collection, street lighting and urban infrastructure.

However, many counties, including Uasin Gishu County, have struggled with low compliance, resulting in significant arrears over time.

To address this, county governments often introduce waivers to encourage defaulters to clear their principal dues by removing penalties and interest, which in some cases exceed the original amount owed.