Residents of Laikipia County have resolved to take the
county government to court for reintroducing land rates allegedly without their
knowledge. Lawyers have started the process of instituting legal proceedings
against the government of Governor Joshua Irungu, which is also accused of
asking for different amounts for the rates in different offices.
The residents oppose the rates claiming that public
participation was not done before imposition of the land rates was effected.
The lawyers plan to file the case against the county
government at the Nakuru Law Courts soon. Some handwritten receipts seen by
journalists indicated that the cash received by the county government for land
rates was receipted under payment for pets and animals.
The residents said that under the defunct Laikipia County
Council, land rates had been scrapped, adding that it is still unclear how the
county government reintroduced the fee, which they termed oppressive. Harun
Muraya, a member of Ng'arua council of elders, said the residents decided to go
to court since they were not consulted when the rates, which they claimed are
aimed at ruining the lives of common mwananchi, were reintroduced. No
consultation "We have seen the best way to solve this problem is by
seeking justice in court. The county government failed to inform us on what was
going on but we will not let it go," he said. James Njuguna, a resident of
Sipili, noted the discrepancies in the receipts when he visited the county
offices in Nyahururu where he was asked for Sh1,500 for the rates. When he went
to Rumuruti, he was asked for Sh2,000 for the same. Lawyers Makara Ngure and
Njeri Kagiri, who will represent the complainants, said members of the public
ought to have been consulted before the fees were imposed.
Compiled by Edmondson
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