In a significant move, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has formally announced the withdrawal of the contentious Land Laws (Amendment) (Number 2) Bill, 2023.

This bill had proposed levying land rent on freehold landowners and property owners with free ownership.

In a letter dated June 13, addressed to Speaker Moses Wetangula, Ichung'wah cited multiple constitutional and legal issues associated with the Bill and stated, " No further consideration of the Bill should be undertaken."

PHOTO | COURTESY Kimani Ichung'wa

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Ichung'wah further explained, “…the Executive had advised on the need for the ensuing issues to be addressed and resolved before further consideration of the Bill. Having consulted with the relevant stakeholders, this is now to confirm that the Majority Party has withdrawn the Bill. Consequently, I request that the House Business Committee be notified of the withdrawal of the Bill and that no further consideration of the Bill should be undertaken.”

He also mentioned that during a House Business Committee meeting, he had advised the Committee not to prioritize the Bill to allow consultations with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning and the National Land Commission.

Sponsored by Ruiru Member of Parliament Simon King'ara, the bill aimed to amend the Land Act of 2012 by inserting a new section after Section 54. This section would have required owners of freehold land within urban areas or cities to pay an annual land levy equivalent to the rent charged on a comparable leasehold property of the same size and zone. Additionally, the bill would have granted the Lands Cabinet Secretary the authority to compulsorily purchase land if deemed necessary by the county or national government.

Experts, however, warned that if the bill were passed, it could lead to many Kenyans losing their property to the government. Dr. Mwenda Makathimo, Executive Director of the Land Development and Governance Institute (LDGI), highlighted that the bill aimed to impose taxes on Kenyans for owning land in urban areas.