This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
On July 21, 2019, the Treasury unveiled a policy to support enhanced devolved revenue, which includes taxing idle land to boost farming and food security.
According to the policy, all county land is set to be taxable, with county governments required to ensure that all titled land is ratable in any form appropriate for local economic status.
Land Secretary Farida Karoney said taxing idle land would boost farming, adding that the government had finalised taxation guidelines on idle land.
The policy also calls for an update to the agricultural rental value form of rating in response to evolving use of rural land, such as for tourism and conservancy.
Trading and market centres need to be planned, surveyed and registered as a matter of urgency so as to have them rated, the policy states.
Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich had earlier said the government plans to rope in the taxman to help county administrations seal loopholes in tax collection for land and property.
