Kisumu County Refutes Claims of Court Halting Land Rate Collection
The Kisumu County Government has firmly denied reports suggesting that a court order had suspended land rate collections within the county.
In a statement signed by Deputy Governor Dr. Matthew Owili, the county condemned what it termed as “calculated and deliberate misinformation” aimed at misleading the public into believing that a High Court directive had frozen tax collections.
“In recent days, there has been a sustained campaign of misinformation, falsely alleging that the High Court in Kisumu issued an order halting land rate collection by the County Government. This is categorically untrue,” the statement read.
The county emphasized that no such court order exists and branded the circulating claims as misguided and potentially harmful to Kisumu’s economic stability—especially at a time when the county is working to enhance its revenue collection.
The confusion, the statement clarified, appears to stem from a legal case—Lake Region Traders Association vs Kisumu County Government—in which the court directed the county to continue rate collection based on a previous valuation roll, rather than the contested 2017 roll.
“The misinterpretation of the court’s directive has led to unwarranted confusion. The court did not stop rate collection—it only clarified that the collection should be based on the older valuation roll,” the county explained.
To promote transparency and clear up any doubts, the county has offered to publicly share relevant court documents with interested parties.
Residents were urged to remain compliant with their tax obligations. The county also highlighted its introduction of incentive measures, including tax waivers, to support property owners and boost compliance rates.
This move mirrors broader efforts across the country, where counties such as Nairobi are stepping up revenue enforcement. Recently, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja defended eviction actions against tenants with rent arrears exceeding 15 years, citing the need for accountability and sustainable development.
In a similar tone, Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga warned in April that land rate defaulters would face enforcement action if they failed to clear their dues.
