By Martin Masai
The Machakos County Assembly has passed a motion thwarting Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s unlawful revenue generatiion plan.
By a plenary vote, the Assembly, presided over by Speaker Anne Kiusya directed the County Executive Committee Member for Finance Ms. Catherine Mutanu to immediately suspend the implementation of the new valuation roll and revised property rates.
The suspension will pend till the enactment of the Machakos County Finance Act, 2026/2027.
The motion, moved by Kinanie Ward MCA Francis Kavyu was adopted after Members raised concerns over the legality of enforcing the revised rates before the Finance Bill is approved and enacted into law.
MCAs cited constitutional provisions requiring all taxes, fees and charges to be anchored in legislation, arguing that implementation of the new valuation roll without an enacted Finance Act would be unlawful and would undermine the Assembly’s legislative and oversight mandate.
Following debate, the House resolved that property owners, businesses and institutions should continue paying rates under the existing legal framework and rates currently in force until the Assembly enacts the Finance Act 2026/27.
Members maintained that the Assembly’s role in approving revenue measures must be respected and that any new taxation framework can only take effect after the necessary legislative processes have been completed.
The resolution effectively halts enforcement of the revised property rates and provides clarity to residents and stakeholders pending consideration and enactment of the Finance Act.
The Assembly’s decision re asserts the Assembly’s commitment to upholding constitutional requirements in public finance management and ensuring that all county revenue measures are implemented within the law.
Stay Anchored
The Valuation Roll is increasing taxation on land contrary to the explanation by the county CEC for Lands.
The earlier explanation that the Roll will increase the price of and is not backed by any logic.
Property prices increase if infrastural development such road network, access to water, electricity etc.
The ordinary villager with titled property whether he has developed his land or not must braze oneself to pay higher taxes in rates as the Valuation Roll is implemented. I congratulate the mover of halting implementation until the necessary legal provisions are passed by the Assembly.