Can I get a title deed for land on a riverbank, beach or road?
Constitution of Kenya and Land Act · sources read 5 Oct 2026
Generally no. Roads, rivers, lakes and other water bodies, and all land between the high and low water marks are public land, which can only be given out or used as an Act of Parliament allows; the Land Act tells the National Land Commission to keep land along rivers, lakes, beaches and riparian areas out of any allocation.
- Where
- National Land Commission (public land); Environment and Land Court (disputes)
Steps
- Report public land that has been given out or occupied unlawfully to the National Land Commission, which manages public land.
- If the Commission serves you a notice to show cause why you should not vacate public land, you have a right to be heard first.
- Disputes over the use, occupation of and title to land go to the Environment and Land Court.
Watch out
- Occupying or putting up a building on public land without lawful authority is unlawful occupation.
- The constitutional right to property does not protect property found to have been unlawfully acquired.
- Under the Land Act, public land also includes the coast foreshore, rivers, dams, lakes and other reserves under the Survey Act.
Who this covers
- Anyone holding, buying or building on land on a road, river, lake or other water body, or on the shore between high and low water marks.
Official sources (2)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Land Act (Cap. 280, No. 6 of 2012), version of 4 November 2025 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026