Land Rates Under the National Rating Act in Kenya 2026: Nairobi's New Structure, County Compliance and What Property Owners Must Pay
The National Rating Act, 2024 took effect on 24 December 2024 and gives the 47 county governments a 24-month window to align their local rating laws. Nairobi began enforcing new land rate charges and penalties from 1 January 2026 after the waiver period expired. This article explains the new framework, the bands, the dispute mechanism and what property owners need to do.
Kenya Rental Income Tax 2026: Why the Rate Rose to 10% and How Resident and Diaspora Landlords Should Respond
The Finance Bill 2026 increases the residential rental income tax rate from 7.5% to 10% of gross rent. The Bill also introduces a 30% withholding tax on rent paid to non-resident persons. Diaspora landlords face a meaningfully different tax bill in 2026/27 and should review their property holding structures.
Ardhisasa in 2026: How Kenyan Diaspora Investors Can Use the Digital Land Registry to Verify Titles, Pay Stamp Duty, and Buy Property Remotely
Ardhisasa, Kenya's National Land Information Management System, is now the only legal path for stamp duty payments and digital title searches in major counties. A complete diaspora guide for 2026.
How Kenyans in the Diaspora Are Investing Back Home: Real Estate, Stocks, SACCOs, and Business Ventures
Kenyans in the diaspora are increasingly translating their earning power abroad into productive investments at home, from apartment buildings in Nairobi suburbs to shares on the Nairobi Securities Exc...
Understanding Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax, and Other Property Transaction Taxes in Kenya
Property transactions in Kenya attract multiple taxes including stamp duty at two to four percent paid by buyers, capital gains tax at 15 percent on profits paid by sellers, monthly rental income tax ...
Affordable Housing in Kenya: The Government's Housing Program, Levy Controversies, and What Buyers Need to Know
Kenya faces a housing deficit of over two million units, with the gap growing by 200,000 annually. The government's Affordable Housing Programme, funded partly through the controversial housing levy, ...
Kenya's Construction Industry: Regulations, NCA Licensing, and the Building Boom Reshaping Cities
Kenya's construction industry is one of the economy's most dynamic sectors, reshaping the country's urban landscape through a building boom that spans residential towers, commercial complexes, and mas...
The Complete Guide to Kenya's Real Estate Market: Trends, Hotspots, and What Smart Investors Need to Know
Kenya's real estate market offers some of the most compelling investment opportunities in Africa, combining robust urbanization-driven demand with a maturing market infrastructure. From Nairobi's evol...
The Housing Crisis in Kenya: Government Programmes, Affordable Housing Levy, and What It Takes to Own a Home
Kenya faces a housing crisis of staggering proportions, with a deficit of over 2 million units and growing. The government's Affordable Housing Programme, funded partly through the controversial Affor...