Do an official land search (title search)
State Department for Lands and Physical Planning · sources read 30 Sep 2026
If the land is in an Ardhisasa county, apply on Ardhisasa with the parcel number, pay when you get the phone prompt, then download the official search certificate. Elsewhere, apply at the land registry. The search certificate fee is KSh 1,000.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Official search certificate
- How long
- About 1 day (land registry service charter)
- Where
- Online on Ardhisasa (Nairobi, Murang'a, Mombasa, Isiolo), or at the land registry where the land is registered
What you need
- The parcel number (title number) of the land, plus the purpose of the search
- At the registry: a completed application form, your ID and a copy of your KRA PIN certificate
Steps
- Log in to Ardhisasa (ardhisasa.lands.go.ke), open land registration services and choose Search.
- Start a new application and enter the parcel number, the purpose and the scope of the search.
- You will get a message on your phone asking you to pay. Pay to move the search forward.
- When you get the text that it is done, log in and view or download the official search certificate.
Watch out
- Ardhisasa is only live in Nairobi, Murang'a, Mombasa and Isiolo. For land elsewhere, go to the land registry where the land is registered.
- An official search shows what is currently on the land register for that parcel, so do it yourself before paying for land. Don't rely on a copy the seller gives you.
Who can apply
- Anyone who needs an official search on a parcel, for example before buying land.
Official sources (6)
- Service Charter (Updated 2025) lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Land Registration Act, 2012 (No. 3 of 2012), section 34 new.kenyalaw.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- State Department for Lands Accelerates Digital Transformation of Land Services lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Land search (online) - eProcedures Kenya eprocedures.investkenya.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Ardhisasa Official Search user guide maarifa.cog.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Ardhisasa ardhisasa.lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026