Process of transferring and Registering land Titles in Kenya

Around the globe, land is a precious commodity and highly valued due to its appreciation rate that rises at a very high rate. Kenya being a no exception, everyone is striving to acquire a piece of land for themselves. Thus, it's essential for everyone to be familiar with the process of transferring their piece of land legally to avoid legal battles concerning the ownership and to detect land scams from far.
Many people in Kenya detest the process of land registration as they count it tedious. Nevertheless, if you know the documents required and the process involved, you will be able to transfer or register your piece of land within a very short time. The whole process can take an average of 90 days.
Here are the steps you need to follow;
Identify the Land
Search for the land that meets your requirements such as price, soil type size and location
Apply For a Search on the Title
This is a very important stage that clarifies if the land has been registered before or there is someone else who owns the piece. You only need to obtain a copy of the title deed from the seller, to do conduct your search.
The process is done at the Registration office at a cost of KSh. 520 where you will need to fill the search application form and attach a title deed copy. The search can take even less than two hours.
Apply, Pay and Acquire Clearance Certificate
This process is done in the country office. Once you have confirmed that the person selling is the legitimate property owner, carry out another search in the county office be sure the land has no outstanding fees that need to be paid in the county office. The cost for this search varies according to the value of the property and from county to county. 
Obtain two land maps
With the two maps; one will show the overview of the piece of land and the adjacent plots while the other one is usually a drawn to scale. They are acquired from the ministry of land or the local surveyor at the cost of Ksh. 300.
Verify the Ground
Both the buyer and the seller are required to visit the land accompanied by the surveyor to verify the dimensions. To avoid future land boundaries dispute, ascertain the presence of beacons.
Sale Agreement
The law of Kenya requires this transaction to be completed in writing and it's advisable to have a lawyer (even though not a must).
If the land is valued at a cost above Ksh. 1,000,000 the lawyer should charge Ksh.8000 and Ksh. 300 if the property is valued at a price below Ksh 1,000,000. Usually, the lawyer's cost is equally shared between the seller and the buyer.
During this process, it is recommended to have the presence of the seller's spouse to consent on the sale. Alternatively, get the land control board clearance at a Ksh. 1000. Also, you can schedule a meeting with the assistant county commissioner at Ksh. 5,000.
Transfer and Attaining of Completion Documents
Once the payment is through, and the seller has signed the land transfer forms, the buyer is required to present the following documents to the ministry of land, to change the land ownership; 
  • The clearance from the county,
  • Land search
  • Consent from LCMB
  • KRA pin certificate
  • Three passports
  • Old title deed
  • The sale agreement
Processing title deed costs Ksh. 5,000 and it takes approximately two weeks.
Stamping the Transfer
The Stamp Duty is usually paid for depending on the value of the land. For the rural areas, it is 2% and 4% for the urban property. This is paid once the valuation of the land has competed. The Stamp Duty can be paid online through KRA Itax portal.
Post-Acquisition Activity
As the new buyer, you should conduct another search through after two weeks through the ministry of land to confirm that the property is under your name.
Parting Short

The process of land buying in Kenya is full of cartels and government officials who insist on bribes to offer you the right you fully deserve. Not forgetting the many scammers looking for the slightest opportunity to pounce on your hard earned cash. Therefore it's advisable to purchase land through a certified, genuine, experienced and affordable property company who are competent to do all the hustles on your behalf. They will carry all the due diligence, ensure the property is beckoned, and the title deed is in your hands. 

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