Kisumu County Government has announced a 100 per cent waiver on all accrued penalties and interest on outstanding land rates, offering thousands of property owners a rare opportunity to clear their arrears without incurring additional charges.
In a public notice issued on Monday, June 15, the county administration said the amnesty programme applies to all land rate accounts across Kisumu and will run until June 30, giving landowners a limited window to regularise their accounts.
“The County Government of Kisumu is pleased to announce a waiver on all accrued interests and penalties on outstanding land rates,” the notice stated.
County officials said the initiative is intended to encourage compliance among property owners while easing the financial burden faced by residents who have accumulated significant arrears over the years.
“This waiver presents a valuable opportunity for landowners to settle their land rates arrears without incurring additional charges,” the county added.
Under the programme, property owners will only be required to pay their principal land rate balances, with all accumulated penalties and interest being written off during the waiver period.
Residents seeking to benefit from the amnesty have been directed to visit the City of Kisumu offices or the relevant sub-county offices where their properties are located for verification and payment processing.
Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o urged landowners to take advantage of the offer before the deadline expires, saying the programme is designed to help residents bring their accounts into good standing while supporting the county’s revenue collection efforts.
According to the county government, additional information, payment guidelines, and inquiry contacts have been made available through official communication channels to assist residents seeking clarification on the exercise.
The move is expected to provide significant relief to landowners who have struggled with growing penalties and interest charges, some of which have accumulated over several years.
At the same time, county officials hope the waiver will boost revenue collection by encouraging property owners to clear long-standing debts that may have previously become difficult to settle due to escalating penalties.
Land rate arrears continue to pose a major challenge for many county governments across Kenya, with unpaid property taxes affecting local revenue streams used to finance public services and development projects.
As a result, counties have increasingly turned to waiver programmes as a strategy to improve compliance, recover outstanding revenues, and encourage landowners to regularise their accounts.
The announcement comes amid renewed national debate over property tax collection and revenue management. In May, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chairman Ndiritu Murithi raised concerns over substantial unpaid land rates in Nairobi, arguing that weak enforcement and under-collection of property taxes continue to deny counties billions of shillings in potential revenue.
With the June 30 deadline now approaching, Kisumu property owners have been urged to seize the opportunity before penalties and interest charges are reinstated.
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