Pay stamp duty on a land or property transfer
State Department for Lands and Physical Planning · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Stamp duty on a land transfer is 2% or 4% of the property's value, based on a free government valuation. It is assessed and paid online on Ardhisasa through ArdhiPay, and you need the receipt to register the transfer.
- Fee
- FreeGovernment valuation for stamp duty
- How long
- About 8 days for the valuation; assessment is immediate
- Where
- Online on Ardhisasa (ArdhiPay), handled by the Ministry of Lands
What you need
- Valuation request, title, transfer document, official search, map and plans
- The signed (executed) transfer documents for assessment
Steps
- Submit a valuation request with the title, transfer document, official search, map and plans.
- Government valuers set the market value of the property. This is what stamp duty is worked out on.
- Stamp duty is assessed online at 2% or 4% of the value, and you get the amount to pay on Ardhisasa.
- Pay through ArdhiPay on Ardhisasa and keep the stamp duty receipt. The transfer is registered only with this receipt.
Watch out
- Lands offices don't take cash. All payments go through ArdhiPay.
- Duty is charged on the value set by the government valuer, which may differ from the price in your sale agreement.
- Some transfers, such as to charities or public institutions, can get an exemption. You apply with supporting documents and a copy of the title.
- Land or a house in a municipality pays 4% of the value; elsewhere it's 2%.
- Transfers between husband and wife pay no stamp duty.
- Buying your first home under the government's affordable housing scheme? That purchase pays no stamp duty. It only covers affordable housing scheme houses, not a first home bought on the open market.
Who can apply
- Anyone registering a land or property transfer (sale, gift or inheritance) with the Ministry of Lands.
Official sources (7)
- SDLPP Service Charter (updated 2025) lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Land Transfers lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Valuation for Stamp Duty lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Stamp Duty Assessment & Exemption lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- State Department for Lands Rolls out NSDM Countrywide lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Stamp Duty Act (Cap. 480), version of 1 July 2026 new.kenyalaw.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Ardhisasa ardhisasa.lands.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026