In the past, land records were uncoordinated, making it possible for unscrupulous individuals to take advantage and steal land from rightful owners.

Digitization of all land records in Kenya.

In an attempt to become more efficient and responsive to Kenyans, the Ministry of Lands has introduced Ardhisasa which allows users to access information about land and the processes that are undertaken by the government. Read more on what you need to know about Ardhisasa.

Land buyers can now perform a land search online from the comfort of their homes. Performing a land search is an important part of doing your due diligence when looking to buy land. The results of a land search will help establish the rightful owner of the property you seek to purchase and whether or not there are any pending issues related to the ownership of the land in question. A land search will show the full names of the owner, the approximate size of the land, and any claims on the land. For instance, it may reveal if the land has been used as collateral for a bank loan or as surety in a legal dispute.

How to perform an online land search in Kenya:

To perform a land search online in Kenya, you will be required to have your KRA pin and a copy of the land tittle deed

Simply log into the E-citizen platform and create an account.
Navigate to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning and select the Land search option.
Input the title number and complete the online land search form.
Confirm that all the details are correct, then submit the form.
Select your preferred payment option, which can be either M-Pesa, a credit card, or a debit card. Note that cash payment is not allowed.
Once the payment is successful, proceed to print the results.
The same information can be found on your portal anytime you log into your E-citizen account.

Land search fee:

A simple search costs 500 KSh and can be paid using M-PESA, a credit card, or a debit card.

All landowners are expected to register their contact details with the Ministry of Land by inputting their full names, ID number, and title deed number on the digital platform. When these details are successfully registered, the owner can be notified whenever someone searches for their parcel. This streamlines land transactions by enhancing transparency.