Parliament Sets Record Straight on Claims of Land Rent in Finance Bill 2026

Parliament has dismissed claims that the Finance Bill 2026 introduces an annual land rent for freehold land, saying the reports are false, misleading, and unsupported by any clause in the proposed legislation.

The clarification came after viral social media posts claimed that the Bill contained hidden provisions requiring landowners to begin paying annual charges on freehold property.

The allegations quickly gained attention, prompting concern among landowners and triggering political commentary before Parliament stepped in to address the matter.

In a statement, Parliament said the Finance Bill 2026 does not contain any provisions related to land ownership, land rent, or changes to land tenure systems.

“The 2026 Finance Bill contains a total of 57 clauses, and none is on the subject of land,” the statement read.

Parliament further clarified that the Bill does not introduce any form of annual land rent on freehold land, directly countering the claims that had been widely shared online.

“This is purely false, incorrect, and untrue. The Bill has no provisions on land. The Bill has no provisions on land rent,” the statement added.

Lawmakers also dismissed suggestions that the government is planning to convert freehold land into leasehold tenure through the Finance Bill, terming the claims inaccurate and not grounded in any legislative proposal currently before Parliament.

“There is no such Bill in Parliament, and no Act has been passed by Parliament or signed into law by the President in the current Parliament relating to land rent on freehold land,” the clarification stated.

Parliament urged Kenyans to rely on official communication channels for accurate information and to avoid amplifying unverified claims circulating online, especially on sensitive issues such as taxation and land.

“The National Assembly urges the public to disregard the false information circulating online, which is intended to mislead Kenyans,” the statement said.

The clarification comes amid rising public scrutiny of the Finance Bill 2026, which is currently undergoing public participation ahead of further debate in Parliament. Like previous finance bills, it has become a focal point for national discussion, with citizens closely examining its potential impact on household finances and the cost of living.