The Street Naming and Property Addressing System Bill, 2024
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
New National and County Addressing Bodies Established
The Bill establishes the National Addressing Council to provide strategic direction and the Office of the Registrar of Addresses to manage the National Addressing System. At the county level, each county must establish a County Addressing System Committee within six months to design an appropriate addressing system and implement a four-year county addressing plan.
Mandatory Numbering for All Properties
Under Section 31, all properties used for residential, commercial, civic, institutional, or governmental purposes, as well as vacant parcels in developed areas, must be assigned numbers as addresses. Private developers must also submit proposed street names and numbers to the County Committee for approval.
Fines for Failing to Input Address Data
Under Section 17, any public or private holder of address data who fails to input their address data into the National Addressing System in the prescribed form commits an offence. Upon conviction, they face a fine of up to KSh 100,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.
Penalties for Defacing Street Signs
Under Section 35, any person who destroys, pulls down, or defaces a street name or number is liable on conviction to a fine of up to KSh 100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Additionally, the court may compel the offender to restore the damaged street sign.
Bill No.
Senate Bill No. 43 of 2024
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 158 of 2024
Sponsor
Fatuma Dullo
Background
The Street Naming and Property Addressing System Bill, 2024 seeks to establish a comprehensive, reliable, and standardized addressing framework in Kenya. A consistent addressing system is intended to enhance county planning, facilitate e-commerce, improve revenue collection, ease the identification of streets and public places, and ensure timely emergency responses by ambulance, police, and fire services.
Key Amendments and Institutional Framework
The Bill establishes a two-tiered institutional structure to coordinate national and local addressing:
- National Addressing Council: Chaired by the Principal Secretary for Land, this Council comprises Principal Secretaries from planning, transport, and internal security, alongside representatives from the National Lands Commission, the Council of Governors, the Attorney-General, and the Registrar. It provides strategic direction and advises both levels of government on addressing matters.
- Office of the Registrar of Addresses: Established within the public service, this office is responsible for establishing, managing, and maintaining the National Addressing System as the single authoritative source of address data.
- County Addressing System Committees: Established in every county, each committee is chaired by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for communication or planning. It includes officers from ICT, emergency services, land survey, and cultural/museum bodies. The committee is tasked with designing local addressing systems and implementing county addressing plans.
New Obligations
The Bill imposes several obligations on public bodies, private developers, and property owners:
- County Addressing Plans: Within six months of commencement, each County Committee must develop a county addressing plan to be implemented over a period of not more than four years (Section 33).
- Compulsory Data Submission: Every holder of address data must input all held address data into the National Addressing System in the prescribed form (Section 17).
- Property Numbering: All properties used for residential, commercial, civic, institutional, or governmental purposes, including vacant parcels in developed areas, must be assigned numbers (Section 31).
- Private Developments: Private developers must submit proposed street names and numbers to the County Committee for approval before erecting signage (Section 30).
- Public Consultation: County Committees must hold public hearings and invite submissions before naming or renaming any county street or public place (Section 26).
Penalties
The Bill prescribes specific penalties for non-compliance and vandalism:
- Failure to Input Data: Any custodian or holder of address data who fails to input their data into the National Addressing System is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding KSh 100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both (Section 17).
- Vandalism of Signage: Any person who destroys, pulls down, or defaces a street name or property number commits an offence. The penalty is a fine of up to KSh 100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, plus the court may order the offender to restore the damaged sign (Section 35).
Transitional Provisions
- Land Titles Status: If the naming or addressing of a street affects the details in a Certificate of Title, the change of name or address will not affect the legality or status of the title (Section 34). Property owners may apply to have their titles amended under the Land Registration Act.
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