Kisumu County has announced plans to introduce a new property rating system and is inviting landowners, residents and businesses to submit views before adopting it, People Daily reported.
In a notice in the Kenya Gazette, the county said it was preparing a draft valuation roll and considering one or more forms of rating to determine charges on land and buildings. The process is being carried out under Sections 9 and 10 of the National Rating Act, 2024. The county is considering four forms of rating: annual rental value rating, area rating, unimproved site value rating, and site value rating combined with improvement rating.
Under Gazette Notice No. 17132, public participation meetings will run between 18 November and 7 December 2026. The first is at Prinias Hotel on 18 November for the County Assembly of Kisumu. On 19 November, a meeting at Mama Grace Social Hall is for urban management boards and town and market committees, and on 20 November professional bodies, business entities and government representatives meet at Sunset Hotel. Forums will follow in the sub-counties of Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, Kadibo, Seme, Kisumu West, Kisumu East and Kisumu Central. All meetings start at 9am.
Residents have 60 days from publication of the notice to submit written memoranda, to sub-county administration offices, the office of the County Executive Committee Member for Lands, municipal managers' offices or the county headquarters, or by email or through kisumu.go.ke. The proposed framework and explanatory documents are available at the Lands CECM's office on the ninth floor of Prosperity Building, sub-county offices, municipal offices and the county website.
The county clarified that no rating system will be adopted before the statutory notice period expires and public views are considered. The notice is dated 14 October 2026 and signed by Lands CECM K.C. Otieno.
Source: People Daily