Once in a while, the news reports about hundreds of Kenyans who have lost millions and had their land ownership dreams cut short by unscrupulous land sellers. People living in the diaspora and new unsuspecting buyers who don’t understand the process of acquiring land in Kenya are the common victims.
A land search is a guaranteed way to avoid being conned when buying property, and you can do this online or physically by visiting a land registry office. To get you started, this guide explains why a buyer must do a land search, the costs, and the steps to follow when conducting an eCitizen land search.
What Is a Land Search and Why You Need One
A land search, also known as a title search or title deed search, is an official inquiry to verify land ownership and whether a title has a caveat.
A land search helps a buyer:
- Verify legal land ownership status: Land search results include the registered land proprietor, which verifies a title deed, and the name of the person with legal power to sell.
- Uncover any encumbrances on the land: An encumbrance is a third-party claim to a property, such as mortgages, liens, and leases.
- Confirm zoning regulations: Zoning guidelines regulate how land can be used, including for agriculture, industrial, or commercial. A title search can tell whether the land’s zoning matches your intended use.
- Uncover historical disputes affecting the land: During the land search process, you can also work with an advocate to obtain a certified copy of a property’s green card, which contains the land’s transaction history.
- Check pending land rent or land rate charges: Finally, a land search at the national and local registries can reveal outstanding land tax payments, which are the seller’s responsibility.
How to Do an Online Land Search on eCitizen
The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning built a land information management system and has been digitizing land records, enabling online land title searches in Kenya.
For a title search on eCitizen, you require a scanned copy of the title, the name of the registry and registry section where the land is registered, and the parcel number. If you’re buying land from a real estate company, it’s best to run an official company search through eCitizen first to ensure it has the power to sell. Land searches on eCitizen are, however, only available for properties within Nairobi county as of December 2024.
Armed with these requirements, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to conduct a land search on eCitizen:
Step 1: Navigate to the Lands Ministry Services
After signing up and logging into your eCitizen account, scroll down to the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development tab and click ‘State Department for Lands and Physical Planning’.
From the listed services, click on ‘Search Land Ownership Records’ and choose ‘Apply for land search (RL27)’.
Step 2: Fill out the Land Search Form
A pop-up message will then appear explaining the next steps and what to expect from the search. Click on ‘Apply’ to access the land search form.
Fill in the required land details accurately and confirm in the next window before continuing.
Step 3: Upload Supportive Documents
Next, upload the scanned copy of the title deed and submit your search request. An online title search on eCitizen takes at least 24 hours to process, after which you’ll receive a notification on your phone to complete the payment.
Step 4: Make the Payment
When you receive the notification, navigate to the land search page and click ‘Application History’ to complete the payment by filling in the transaction ID. The approximate cost of a land search on Ecitizen is Ksh. 500, and is payable through mPesa or a debit card.
Step 5: Access Land Search Results
The certificate of official search will then be automatically available for viewing or downloading after you pay.
Alternative Methods of Conducting a Land Search
There are other channels to conduct a title search if you’re interested in property outside Nairobi, including our plots for sale in Kikuyu, Kiambu county.
- Ardhisasa platform for land parcels in Nairobi and Murang’a counties as of December 2024
- Manual land search by visiting the local land registry where the land is located and applying for a search
- Involving an advocate to facilitate the search
After a land search, visit the property physically as well to inspect things like the state of the land, boundaries, and any inhibitions to your intended use.
Buy Land in Kikuyu with Pettmall Shelters
Kikuyu, Kiambu County, is a prime location for land ownership, which is likely to attract land fraudsters. Before buying any piece of land, conduct a thorough land search online and manually if possible.
Our plots for sale in Kikuyu have all undergone the proper land transfer process and are registered under Pettmall Shelters. We facilitate the final transfer to your legal ownership and provide ready title deeds to make the process as seamless as possible. Call us at +254 726 333 222 or visit our offices at Eureka Towers, First Floor, Kikuyu Town to learn more or book a free site visit.