This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
Meru County is pushing to increase land rates for large commercial farms in Buuri sub-county, with a proposed amendment to the Finance Bill aiming to revise the rates upwards.
According to Finance and ICT Committee Chairman Dennis Kiogora, the current rate of Sh10 per acre has remained unchanged since 1963, when it was first introduced.
“Sh10 in 1963 is worth Sh3,000 now,” Kiogora explained, highlighting the need for an increase.
The county had set a target of Sh1.1 billion in revenue, but only managed to raise Sh527 million in the 12 revenue regions, an increase from Sh305 million collected in the same period last year and Sh402m in the 2016/2017 financial year.
Kiogora warned that failing to reach the target would affect payments to contractors who were given jobs based on the target.
He also emphasized the need for all monies collected by hospitals, the alcohol control board, and Kaguru Agricultural Centre to be deposited in the County Revenue Fund for re-allocation.
“They are telling us they are rehabilitating drunkards, but we have not seen the figures of those rehabilitated,” Kiogora said, questioning the effectiveness of the alcohol board's rehabilitation efforts.
