Nairobi, Feb. 13 -- The National Land Commission (NLC) has rejected a section of a Bill that seeks to require owners of freehold land within or close to an urban area to pay annual land levy in addition to land rates.

The commission told the National Assembly's committee on Lands that the introduction of a land levy would amount to double taxation.

The NLC Chief Executive Kabale Tache told the committee that freehold interest is not comparable to a leasehold interest.

"There should be no levy charged on freehold land apart from rates," Ms Tache said while calling on MPs to delete the proposed amendment.

Read: Wrong to tax freehold land

"Freehold interests are superior interest and there is no landlord and therefore no rent can be owe...