Kenyans can now make land searches easily

Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning has made land searches easier for Kenyans through the eCitizen platform.

One only needs to log into their eCitizen account, go to the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning section and choose what query or service they would want to perform. Such include :transfer of property, query and payment of land rates, transfer of ownership, search of land ownership records, caution and withdrawal of cautions, among other utilities. Buyers and sellers will also be able to track the conveyance process via the “Track Application” option

According to the Land Development and Governance Institute Executive (LDGI) Director, Mwenda Makathimo, digitising this process is a step in the right direction as it helps clients circumvent brokers and reduces the distance Kenyans have to travel to get to the lands offices.

“As of now automation in the land sector is scattered and we are calling  the government to streamline  the process if it is keen on helping Kenyans. For instance you find titles not updated on the official maps o at the  registries and the fear is that another person can come with a title deed to the same parcel claiming the same land on the ground,” Makathimo stated  during the release of a survey on land governance by the LDGI.

Founder and Director of RE/Max Taji, Sylvia Kamau says the move is a positive milestone in dealing with the numerous fraud cases that have happened in the past and advises property seekers to engage lawyers to carry out due diligence.

“The ease of doing land searches at the click of a button is a welcome idea for us as a country. Land ownership verification in counties where the digitisation process has been finalised is now possible and affordable by individuals. Currently, this service is available in Nairobi County, with other pilot counties in advanced stages,” says Sylvia.