Buying Land In Kenya-8 Easy Steps

In every transaction there's both the buyer and seller expectations. Land purchase doesn't have to be complicated and needs to be demystified. This article generally looks at the land buying process in Kenya, the expectations, the norms and the pitfalls thereof.

Land buying follows the basic principles of law of contract. For instance, like any other sale of good transaction, the seller is not obliged to inform the buyer of any defects on the land e.g the land being prone to flooding. This is known as BUYER BE AWARE principle (caveat emptor). However he is supposed to disclose any defects on the title e.g the title of the land being used as a security against a bank loan.


Generally land in Kenya is identified by Plot Number or Land Rate number (LR). After appropriate land is identified and the LR number obtained from the seller and the process proceeds as follows:

Step 1: Ground Verification

Visit the land on the ground. Have a tape measure to confirm the dimension from the map drawn to scale. Make sure you see the beacons.

Step 2: Search at Ministry of Lands

Do search with Ministry of Lands at district or county HQ; this will reveal the true land owners and establish the presence of brokers if any, If the title has been charged or has a caveat e.g when title used to secure a loan, or there is a court order barring any transaction on that land,  etc.
A search cost 520/= and should be ready normally within two hours. A valid search should be no more than six months old.

Step 3: Sale Agreement

The law requires any land transaction to be in writing. While it is not a must a lawyer be involved it is very advisable to have a lawyer. According to the tariff provided by Law Society of Kenya the lawyer should charge 3000 if land is 1,000,000 and below 8000 if land value is above 1,000,000. Lawyers cost is normally shared 50:50 between buyer and seller.
Ensure that the spouse to the seller is present at this stage or at least the spouse is aware and agrees with the transaction to avoid later complications. Consent from children is not required though it may be important since you need good neighbors after you have bought the land.

Step 4: Post Agreement Transaction

After this everything now depends on the agreement. According to the agreement, you may be paying cash or by installment. Either way the seller will demand some money. Ensure by the time you make the initial payment the title deed and other legal documents are in the custody of the lawyers.

Consider a scenario where the seller takes a bank loan a day after you did the search and used the title deed as a security. The search would be a clean but the title isn’t available by the time you are at step 4.

I repeat : remember he can take a loan in the middle of your transaction if he continues to keep the title.

Step 5: Land Control Board

Book the Land Control Board (LCB) meeting. The LCB Is a forum made of the Assistant County Commissioners( Previously called D.O ) and the local village elders and meets once a month. They are the ones who give the final consent for the land to be sold. Their role is to protect the seller from self destruction
LCB cost 1000/= however there is a special Land Contol Bond (SCLB) which involves only the D.O and the two transacting parties instead of waiting for the main LCB which meets once per month. Cost: 5,000/= time 2 hours depending with availability of D.O

Step 6: Land Transfer

After all payments, seller signs Land Transfer Forms which together with Consent from LCB, land search – not more than 6 months old(see step 1) clearance from county/ municipal council (that you have paid all land rates), passport photos, KRA pin, agreement and old title deed you go to Ministry of Lands to change ownership. Cost varies to process new title. Time 2 weeks, but if you can make the ministry of lands official to smile you will have the title later that afternoon. Cost: undisclosed token of appreciation given to land officials. This is Kenya, remember?

Note it’s possible and advisable that the land transfer documents be signed in advance and be deposited with the lawyer i.e when you pay the first installment (see step 6). This ensures that the seller cannot backtrack.

Step 7: Stamp Duty and Transfer Fees

After you have all the transfer documents as stated above you need the seller no more. However you will also need to pay stamp duty based on value of land i.e 4% for Municipalities 2% for reserve. i.e if your land is in the municipality and you bought at 1,000,000 you pay stamp duty of 40,000.

Notice the value of land could be different from the purchase price and in such cases, though extremely rare, the Ministry of Land official might demand a valuation. In most cases they just use the purchase price.

Step 8: Post Purchase Activity

After one week the buyer should do another search with Ministry of Lands to confirm that the land now reads your details after which you call your family and friends to slaughter a goat to give thanks to God. Remember to call me so that we can celebrate your new achievement together.