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Legal Alert
Navigating the new land registration rules in Nairobi County
David Ochieng FCIArb
·
June 1, 2026
The Ministry of Lands has rolled out significant changes to the land registration process in Nairobi County as part of the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) digitisation programme.
Key changes effective from 1 January 2025:
1. Digital title deeds — All new title deeds issued in Nairobi County are now digital, with QR codes linking to the NTID database for instant verification.
2. Online search fees — Official land searches can now be conducted online through the eCitizen platform at a fee of KES 500 (previously KES 520 over the counter).
3. Mandatory geo-referencing — All land transactions must now include geo-referenced survey plans, replacing the old deed plans. This adds approximately KES 50,000-150,000 to transaction costs depending on parcel size.
4. Enhanced due diligence — The Registrar now requires a 30-day public notification period for all transfers, during which any party can raise caveats or objections.
5. Beneficial ownership disclosure — The new regulations require disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners for all corporate-owned properties, in line with the Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations 2020.
These changes will affect transaction timelines. We recommend buyers and developers factor in an additional 4-6 weeks for the enhanced verification processes.
Key changes effective from 1 January 2025:
1. Digital title deeds — All new title deeds issued in Nairobi County are now digital, with QR codes linking to the NTID database for instant verification.
2. Online search fees — Official land searches can now be conducted online through the eCitizen platform at a fee of KES 500 (previously KES 520 over the counter).
3. Mandatory geo-referencing — All land transactions must now include geo-referenced survey plans, replacing the old deed plans. This adds approximately KES 50,000-150,000 to transaction costs depending on parcel size.
4. Enhanced due diligence — The Registrar now requires a 30-day public notification period for all transfers, during which any party can raise caveats or objections.
5. Beneficial ownership disclosure — The new regulations require disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners for all corporate-owned properties, in line with the Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations 2020.
These changes will affect transaction timelines. We recommend buyers and developers factor in an additional 4-6 weeks for the enhanced verification processes.
Land Law
Real Estate
Nairobi
Property