Can the Land Registrar put a restriction on your title?
Land Registration Act, 2012 · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Yes. To prevent fraud or improper dealing, for compulsory acquisition or for another sufficient cause, the Land Registrar can register a restriction that stops or limits dealings with your land, after making inquiries and hearing the people they think fit. You can apply to the Registrar to remove or vary it, or ask the court.
- Where
- Apply to the Land Registrar at the land registry where the land is registered (or Ardhisasa where your registry is online). Court applications go to the Environment and Land Court.
Steps
- Check the written notice of the restriction the Registrar sent you, or do a search at the land registry to see it on the register.
- Apply to the Land Registrar to remove or vary the restriction. The Registrar must give everyone affected a chance to be heard first.
- As the owner, you can also apply to the court, with notice to the Registrar, for an order removing or varying it.
Watch out
- While the restriction stays on the register, no sale, transfer or other document that goes against it can be registered unless the court or the Registrar orders it.
- A restriction can last for a set period, until something happens, or until a further order, so it may not end on its own.
- The Registrar must register a restriction wherever the owner's power to deal with the land is limited.
Who this covers
- Owners of land, leases or charges where the Registrar sees a risk of fraud or improper dealing, a compulsory acquisition, or another sufficient cause.
- The Registrar must tell the affected owner about the restriction in writing.
Official sources (2)
- Land Registration Act, 2012 (No. 3 of 2012) new.kenyalaw.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Environment and Land Court judiciary.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026