National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has withdrawn the controversial Lands Amendment Bill 2023 which sought to introduce an annual levy on freehold land.
The Bill sought to amend six Land Acts, including introducing a new clause that will compel land and property owners to pay land rent.
The Majority Leader who sponsored the Bill which was to be introduced for a second reading wrote to Speaker Moses Wetangula confirming withdrawal of the Bill. Ichung’wah said he decided to withdraw after consulting with the relevant stakeholders.
Consequently, Ichung’wah requested that the House Business Committee be notified of the withdrawal of the bill with no further consideration of the Bill should be undertaken.
It was anticipated that the Lands Amendment Bill would trigger vehement opposition given the controversial clauses with one of the amendment proposing clipping powers by the National Lands Commission (NLC).
The Bill also sought to give the Lands Cabinet Secretary power to acquire land compulsorily whenever the county or the national government determines that there is need to acquire a particular piece of land.
The bill proposed raising various land-related rates by up to 200 per cent.
