Relief for Kahawa Sukari residents as court bars Kiambu County from increasing land rates

Residents of Kahawa Sukari Estate in Kiambu County have received a temporary reprieve after the High Court barred the Kiambu County Government from enforcing increased land rates pending the hearing of a case challenging the hike.

Justice Mogeni directed that a temporary conservatory order be issued, stopping the implementation of the contested land rates as the court considers an application filed by residents.

The case was filed by four petitioners Dickson Miano Maina, Joseph Kurauka, Murithi Kananua and Nicholas Komu on behalf of 578 plot owners in Kahawa Sukari Estate.

The residents moved to court challenging a sharp increase in land rates imposed by the county government.

According to court documents, the residents say they historically paid land rates of Sh1,500 per year. However, in 2024 the county government increased the rates to Sh15,750, representing what they describe as an increase of about 1,000 percent.

They argue that the hike is excessive and threatens their property rights.

“The increase represents approximately 1000 percent and therefore a disproportionate increase that is detrimental to the right to hold property,” the petitioners state in court papers.

The residents further claim that the county government failed to conduct meaningful public participation before implementing the new charges, which they argue violates the law governing valuation and rating.

They also say that the valuation used to determine the rates assumed a uniform land value of Sh6.3 million per quarter acre based on a 2014 valuation, which they claim does not reflect the actual variation in land values within the estate.

In an affidavit filed in court, Dickson Miano Maina says many residents are retirees who are struggling financially and cannot afford the increased rates.

He also claims that several essential services in the estate, including security and waste management, are largely funded and managed by residents themselves.

The petitioners further argue that sewer connectivity in the area is limited, forcing many households to rely on septic tanks despite the high land rates.

They also raised concern over penalties and interest accruing on unpaid rates at a rate of 30 percent.

The residents told the court that they had earlier petitioned Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on August 22, 2025, asking the county government to reconsider the increment, but their concerns were not addressed.

Justice Mogeni, however, declined to certify the residents’ application as urgent but granted interim conservatory orders pending the hearing and determination of the application.

The court directed the petitioners to serve all parties in the case, including the County Government of Kiambu, the governor, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and the Kiambu County Assembly.

The matter will be mentioned on June 18, 2026, for directions.