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{
    "id": 1268293,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1268293/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 250,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emgwen, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Josses Lelmengit",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this chance to contribute to this Bill. I support the National Rating Bill. There is need for the Government to have a reliable source of revenue and this is a key principle of Kenya’s devolution as provided under Article 175 of the Constitution of Kenya. Article 209(3) empowers counties to impose property rates as a source of revenue. However, the existing legislation on rating does not provide adequate legislation to facilitate preparation of valuation roles and implementation. The National Rating Bill gives guidelines and regulations that we got from public participation and international standards, so that it can give a uniform baseline for the county governments to implement. Examples are the tabling of prepared draft valuation rolls which contain the owners of the parcels of land, properties and details of properties. A lot of thoughts went into this throughout. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Lands we had an extensive input from professionals, valuers and surveyors from across the board. Public participation in this Bill has been enhanced whereby everyone from all sectors has been involved. They have also provided a shortened period of reviewing this land valuation. Since Independence, few inputs have been put into this Bill yet times are changing. This one provides at least five years’ life circle. County assemblies have been given an opportunity that they can extend for a period of not exceeding two years. A period of seven years is substantial for review of this Rating Bill. One area that I have to add that I thought was omitted in this Bill is the issue of land value capture, where the Government would tax developers and property owners if it has added value to property around an area, for example, road infrastructure, sewer lines, water access and such. Those property owners and developers should at least pay more. I will give an example of an area which has been developed by the Government and is 100 metres away from the developers or property owners. It is an area where the Government has constructed good roads, sewer systems and provided water. There is another adjacent area where the Government has not developed social amenities but is probably planning to do them in future. Those two property owners should not pay the same rates. Those are the areas in this Bill that I think should be looked into."
}