BUYING LAND PROCESS IN KENYA
If you are buying land from an individual or group please follow the following steps to avoid being conned
1 . Ask to see the title deed or Copy of the title deed.
- Then search the ministry of Land to confirm who the real owners are or if the title has any caveat or encumbrances on it.
- The search will cost you KES 520 or free depending on the county.
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Search with local authorities to check for any unpaid land rates for the land you are buying in Kenya.
- If any, agree with the seller who will settle the land rates.
- Note that land can’t be transferred if they are unpaid land rates.

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Go to the ministry of lands and buy 2 Maps,
- One showing the exact measurements of the piece of land that you are buying in Kenya called (mutation) and the other showing the neighboring lands, Each costs KES 350.
- You get the maps/mutation forms from the local Survey Office. For example, Nairobi- Survey of Kenya. In most cases the survey office is within the same location as the local lands ministry but not always.
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With your 2 maps and a surveyor (you can do it yourself) visit the land you are buying in Kenya and verify the details on the MAP.
- Check out all the beacons.
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Sit down with your seller and bargain the price.
- Write down an agreement. The agreement can be done in the presence of a lawyer.
- According to LSK if the value of the land is below 1 million you pay the lawyer KEs 3,000, if it’s above 1 million you pay the lawyer KES 8,000 for the agreement.
- Avoid being conned by malicious lawyers.
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Pay some amount as per your agreement
- Don’t pay everything even though you have the full amount.
- They meet once every month. It will cost you KES 1,000.
- LCB will issue consent for the land to be sold.
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Pay the remaining balance after getting consent from LCB.
- Go to the ministry of lands offices .
- Carry your KRA PIN, 2 passport photos, and a copy of the title deed to change ownership.
- It will cost you KES 5,000.
- You’ll need a copy of the original when taking it to the ministry of lands.
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At this stage you don’t need the seller. Now go pay stamp duty, according to the value of the land.
- 4% of sales value in municipalities
- 2%of sales value in reserves.
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Now the land belongs to you, but before celebrating go to the ministry of lands & search to confirm if they have updated their records and it reads you.