Procedure for subdividing land in Kenya

Land is usually subdivided into pieces to make it easier for selling and or developing. Besides, if you want to get higher returns, it's better to subdivide your land into smaller portions instead of selling it as a block.
Here are some reasons for subdividing land;

• To ensure every subplot have adequate space for infrastructure and access roads.
• To ensure there is a coordinated and planned development to avoid scatters and uncontrolled developments.
• To ensure the recommended populations density can be served by the available facilities.
• To ensure the respective county government and national government share the enriched value that comes from the subdivision of land

Steps of Subdividing the Land
The first step you need to take is to conduct a title deed search at the local land registry. This process requires a copy of the title deed number, tax pin card, and your identity card. The search is vital as it will ascertain the land ownership. The process takes less than three days.
Afterward, the landowner with the help of surveyor will get the registry index map (RIM) from Survey Kenya. This is a map that covers a large geographical area that shows where the land to be subdivided lies. Then the surveyor will visit the property and take the measurement on the land to ascertain that the sizes indicated on the maps corresponds to the one on the ground. This also helps the surveyor plan the work to avoid setting boundaries that may conflict with permanent buildings or structures.
The surveyor then prepares a subdivision scheme which has to be signed by a certified physical planner. Once the planner is satisfied with surveyor's plan, he/she will give PPA 1 (Physical Planning Act form).  The subdivision's blueprints are then taken to the office of the lands where PPA2 form is issued upon approval.
Once the submission blueprint is submitted, the landowner will then book an appointment with the local land control board with the current title search (which is usually valid for three months from the date it was issued), the PPA1 and PPA2. The land control board is the meeting where the local leaders sit at the sub-counties to approve land transfers in the region. This meeting happens once in a month, and the board must be booked two weeks in advance. In this meeting, the owner is required to give reasons for subdividing the land, and their spouse must be present.
After getting the consent of land control board, the surveyor will then place beacons to mark the boundaries of the land.
For general boundaries which are usually happening in rural areas, it is allowable to put one-meter error margin when placing the bacon to mark the land boundaries. In urban centers, surveyors mostly prefer placing fixed (cadastral) by which beacon positioning is measured in coordinates.
When the land boundaries are marked, the surveyor and the landowner are supposed to sign three copies of mutation form which will also be approved by a surveyor who is more senior and licensed. The search document, mutation forms, the PPA1, and PPA2 forms, and the consent form from the land control board will be then be taken to district survey office where the cartographer will allocate new plot numbers to the subdivided pieces. These documents will again be taken to the relevant land county registries for the land registrar to register the titles.

The certified copies of mutation forms by the land registrar are taken to the survey of Kenya for the map to be amended. There are two measuring standard in Kenya;

• The metric (Meters and Hectares)
• Imperial (acres and feet

Surveyors in Kenya do their work in the metric standard, which is the reason title deeds are usually indicated in hectares (ha).
In Kenya you can partition your land into these two methods;
Method 1: Architect
When using this method, you use www.a4architect.com site to get a housing estate scheme and get it approved by the right local authority. Your title will be issued under the sectional properties act. The process will take 14 days per acre on average.
Method 2: Surveyor
Mostly this method is used by land surveyors to subdivide the land into 1/8th-acre plots. In Kenya, an acre can produce 8 parcels of 1/8th-acre plots.
Final Words

When choosing for the surveyor, go for the professional one and the one you have a good relationship with. This is important because, for some weeks, you will be in constant communication until the process is completed. If in need of a surveyor, talk to us, and we will give you a competent one, and you will enjoy the process.