Before transferring leasehold land in Kenya, the party transferring the leasehold interest must obtain consent from the Commissioner of Lands (now exercised through the National Land Commission (NLC) for public land and the Ministry of Lands for allocated leasehold). Leasehold tenure is a right to hold land for a specific period — with non-citizens limited to a maximum 99-year lease — subject to payment of annual land rent to the national government and land rates to the county government.
Leasehold Land Consent Fee Summary Table
| Fee Type | Amount (KES) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consent to transfer (Commissioner of Lands / NLC) | 1,000 | Standard fee for leasehold consent |
| Land search fee | 500 | At Ministry of Lands or eCitizen portal |
| Land rent clearance certificate | Free (on clearance of arrears) | Must be obtained before transfer |
| Land rates clearance certificate (Nairobi County) | 10,000 | Varies by county |
| Title deed registration fee | 500 | At Land Registry |
| Title deed issuance fee | 5,000 | New title fee |
| Stamp duty (leasehold within municipality/city) | 4% of property value | Paid to KRA via iTax |
| Stamp duty (leasehold outside municipality) | 2% of property value | Lower rate for rural leaseholds |
Land rent arrears must be cleared and a Land Rent Clearance Certificate obtained before transfer proceeds. Leasehold land rent is an annual obligation to the Ministry of Lands.
Key Notes
Foreign nationals may only hold leasehold land in Kenya, and no leasehold granted to a non-citizen may exceed 99 years. Before stamp duty is calculated, the property must be valued by a government-appointed valuer to determine accurate market value. The stamp duty is then paid through the KRA iTax system before documents can be franked and submitted for registration.
