Always do an official land search before paying any money. The search shows who the registered owner is, the size and type of the land, and whether it has any loans, court orders or other claims against it.

• Request the search through the government Ardhisasa platform (ardhisasa.lands.go.ke). The fee is currently KSh 500.
• Check that the name on the search matches the name on the title deed and the seller's ID.
• Visit the plot with the seller and confirm the beacons match the survey map.

With Fanaka, you can visit the project on a site visit before you commit. Our team will guide you through the search process.

Freehold means you own the land outright, with no time limit. Leasehold means you hold the land for a fixed period (for example 99 years) and the land belongs to the government or a county. When the lease runs out, you must renew it.

Ask to see the type of title on your official search so you know exactly what you are buying.

A land transfer moves ownership from the seller to you. The main steps are:

1. Sign a sale agreement and pay the agreed deposit or price.
2. Get a land rates clearance certificate (and a rent clearance for leasehold land).
3. Get the Land Control Board consent where it is required, mostly for agricultural land.
4. Have the land valued and pay stamp duty.
5. Lodge the signed transfer documents at the Lands Registry.
6. The registry registers you as the new owner and issues a title deed in your name.

Fanaka handles the paperwork for you so the process is smooth from payment to title.

Stamp duty is a government tax paid by the buyer when ownership is transferred. It is charged on the value of the property:

• 4% for land in towns and municipalities
• 2% for land in rural areas

The seller pays any capital gains tax on their side. Buyers should also plan for legal and registration costs. Speak to our sales team for a clear breakdown for the plot you are interested in.

A sale agreement is a contract showing that you agreed to buy the land and how you will pay. A title deed is the official government document proving you are the registered owner.

A sale agreement alone does not make you the owner. Make sure the process ends with a title deed in your name. Fanaka projects come with ready title deeds.

Yes to both. Fanaka offers flexible payment plans of up to 6 months, interest free, and plots starting from as low as KSh 650K.

If you live abroad, you can pay digitally and complete the purchase without being in Kenya. Read our guide to buying land from the diaspora for the full steps.

Yes, once the title is in your name. To sell, you will do a fresh land search for the buyer, sign a sale agreement, and complete the same transfer steps. To subdivide, you need approval from the county and a surveyor to prepare the subdivision plan.

Always use a licensed surveyor and an advocate to avoid disputes later.

Section 40 of the Constitution of Kenya says every person has the right to own land of any description in any part of Kenya. The National Land Policy (1.5.1 (7), (c), (d)) also stresses gender equity and equal land rights.

As an owner of a beneficial interest in land, you can take part in decisions about how it is used and developed, and you get a share of any income the property earns. Planning succession early also protects your family from disputes later.

Testate succession is when the deceased leaves a written or oral will. The deceased must have been of sound mind and of age when making the will. In other words, they must have understood and approved what the will says.

This is when the deceased leaves no will. The law then decides who inherits.

• Spouse and children: The surviving spouse keeps the personal and household effects and holds the rest of the property on behalf of the children. The spouse cannot sell this property, and loses the entitlement if he or she remarries.
• Children but no spouse: The property goes to the surviving child, or is shared equally among the children.
• No spouse and no children: The property passes in this order: father, then mother, then brothers and sisters (and their children) in equal shares, then half-brothers and half-sisters (and their children), then distant relatives up to the sixth degree.
• If there is no surviving relative, the estate is taken up by the State.