The Ministry of Land has proposed an increase in land taxes in the latest upward revision of government service fees.
Although it is subject to public participation, the proposal made by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome will amend the law after decades of Kenyans enjoying the services for the same price.
According to CS Wahome, the changes are vital because the prices have not been amended for over 30 years despite the betterment of the quality of services offered.
”The main objective of the proposed statutory instruments is to amend the existing state instruments that have not been updated for a long time,
“Especially in respect of fees and charges prescribed for various services rendered by the Government in the land sector,’ the CS stated.
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Prices of Land Services in New Proposal
Notably, the changes include the introduction of a Ksh50,000 fee for the incorporation of a trust from the current Ksh5,000.
At the same time, CS Wahome proposed an increase in land search fees to Ksh2,000 from Ksh500.
Fees for the registration of documents have been proposed to increase to Ksh1,500 as well as the corporation of certificate fees.
Also, the application for certified copies of the proceedings that arise from the determination of the land registrar has been revised to Ksh3000 for the first 10 pages.
For any additional pages, applicants will part ways with Ksh100 in the proposal.
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Furthermore, Kenyans will have to pay Ksh1,500 for resubmission and registration of any document and Ksh2,500 for correction of a name that has not been done by the registrar.
Revocation of power of the attorney and the confirmation of boundary disputes will cost Ksh5,000.
Additionally, fixing boundaries will cost Ksh5,000 and the placement of a caution will cost Ksh3,000.
Under the proposals, any land registry that spends a day outside the office will cost Kenyans Ksh5,000.
Recent Upward Revision of Taxes
The announcement came amidst an uproar from Kenyans over the increase of the cost of essential government services including issuance of passports and IDs.
It came through the Interior Ministry led by Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in a special gazette notice shared on Wednesday, November 7, 2023.
In the changes, the government directed that the cost of duplication or replacement of IDs had been increased to Ksh2,000 from Ksh100 among other changes.
However, on November 9, the High Court suspended the Gazette Notice after a citizen went to court to challenge the notice.
“A conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239-15242 dated 6th November 2023 and/or any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges/fees/levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of this Application inter-partes,” the judge ruled.