Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has unveiled an aggressive plan to unlock over Sh80 billion in unpaid land rates and optimise land use as part of a broader vision to transform the city into East Africa’s most liveable lake metropolis. Speaking at the Land-Use Optimisation Roundtable, Nyong’o said underutilised land—amounting to over 40 per cent of the county—presents a major obstacle to growth, despite Kisumu’s strategic lakefront location and real estate potential.
The county will now strictly enforce the Kisumu City Spatial Plan and the National Rating Act, 2024. A four-pillar action plan, to be implemented within 18 months, includes a Land Banking Programme and a ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ policy that mandates development of prime land within 12 months or face compulsory acquisition after 24 months. To spur compliance and investment, the county will offer 15 per cent tax rebates for projects aligned with the spatial plan and grant a six-month amnesty on penalties for rate defaulters. A public sensitisation campaign and a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance will accompany these reforms.
