By Govn's Press
Machakos County has become the second county in Kenya, after Nandi County, to launch a valuation roll since the advent of devolution, marking a significant milestone in land administration and revenue reforms.
Speaking during the official launch, Governor Wavinya Ndeti reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and strengthening local revenue systems. She emphasized that the new valuation roll is designed not to overburden residents, but to promote equity in property taxation.
“It is not about overcharging our people; it is about ensuring that high-value commercial assets contribute their fair share towards the development of our devolved functions,” said the governor.
In a move aimed at modernizing land administration, Governor Ndeti also unveiled the Automated Development Applications Management System (ADAMS), a digital platform expected to streamline development approvals and eliminate inefficiencies associated with manual processes.
“In order to safeguard your data and eliminate human errors and delays of the past, we have rolled out the Automated Development Applications Management System (ADAMS). This is our electronic portal for building and development approvals,” she added.
The governor further announced relief measures for landowners, noting that those who have already paid their 2026 land rates will not be subjected to any new rates introduced under the valuation roll for the remainder of the year.
Additionally, all outstanding arrears, interest, and penalties for late payments have been waived for a two-month period to encourage compliance. After this window, penalties and interest will resume based on the new principal rates.
“Effective immediately after this launch, all outstanding arrears, interest, and penalties for late payments are waived. I encourage residents to take advantage of this waiver,” she said.
Governor Ndeti also reiterated her administration’s commitment to securing land ownership rights, describing access to ownership documents as a constitutional entitlement. She revealed that the county is currently preparing land use plans for 82 markets, with 1,800 allotment letters already issued in Mlolongo Phase 3 and an additional 3,000 in progress.
Machakos County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Nathaniel Nganga, noted that the number of registered landowners has risen from 55,000 to over 60,000, a development expected to boost revenue collection and improve service delivery.
Local businessman and landowner Larry Kathuli welcomed the initiative, describing it as a transformative step for property owners and investors. He said the valuation roll would enhance clarity, fairness, and confidence in property taxation while streamlining land administration and attracting investment.
The launch positions Machakos as a leader in land reforms among devolved units, with officials expressing optimism that the changes will drive economic growth and improve public service delivery across the county.
