When acquiring land, it is prudent to conduct a land search to establish the actual owner of the parcel.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS), also known as ArdhiSasa, on April 27, 2021.
One of its benefits is the quick access to digital land records. Land searches can now be conducted anywhere in the world on internet-enabled devices.
This drastically reduces the time spent on manual land searches that used to be done in Ministry of Lands offices.
Lands CS Zachariah Njeru appearing before Senate Standing Committee on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
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Ministry of Lands
Kenyans.co.ke sought to enumerate the steps to take when conducting a land search online.
Land Search Process
“A search is an application made to find out the ownership details of a property, and other interests that have been registered on that property,” explains the Ministry of Lands.
One has to ensure they are registered on the platform. This process needs an identification (ID) card and a password only.
On the dashboard, go to the land registration services section. One can also use the quick links section.
Click the ‘New application’ button to start a new land search application. This will lead you to the ‘Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)’ page.
Click ‘Next’ at the bottom right corner to access the ‘Search details’ tab.
Here, click on ‘Parcel search’ then, enter the parcel number of the land, and then click ‘Add parcel’. Then enter the purpose of the search.
ArdhiSasa allows for a maximum of 50 entries. After that, select the scope of the search. It could be particulars of the subsisting entries or encumbrances of the land. Encumbrances mean any claims on the asset.
Samples of approved title deeds shared by the Ministry of Lands on October 2021.
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Ministry of Lands
Click ‘Next’ to proceed to the ‘Confirmation’ page. Make sure the information entered is correct, then click ‘Submit’.
“Upon successful submission, the system notifies the current owner or owners.
“In addition, the proprietor/owner shall have to consent to the search request through the system,” notes the Ministry of Lands.
The owner of the land being searched receives an SMS notifying him or her of a land search on the property to which he or she can assent through the system.
The searcher will receive the land search results as an SMS on his or her mobile phone and can download the land search certificate through the ArdhiSasa platform.
Three reasons for unavailable search results
Such incidents occur when the owner is not registered on Ardhisasa
Secondly, if the add property process has either not been initiated or approved by the Ministry of Lands.
Thirdly, if the searcher has inserted the wrong parcel number.
In closing, the ministry advises users to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page when they face difficulty. An online land search application is free.
