Land transactions are set to move faster after the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning activated an online stamp duty processing system in multiple registries, ending decades of paperwork-heavy procedures that slowed down property transfers.
The digital platform allows users to complete assessments and payments without physically visiting land offices.
The new system is currently operational in 36 land registries and handles stamp duty assessment and payment through the National Stamp Duty Module.
The module is built into the National Land Information Management System, also known as Ardhisasa, which supports land registration services.
Before the change, stamp duty processing depended on physical submission of documents, manual valuation reviews and in-person payments.
These steps often led to overcrowded registries, long waiting periods and frequent assessment errors that delayed land transfers.
With the digital framework now in place, applicants can submit stamp duty requests online and make payments through ArdhiPay, a service connected to the eCitizen platform.
After payment is confirmed, the system issues an electronic receipt, allowing the transfer process to proceed without further physical follow-ups.
During the rollout, Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Nixon Korir said the new module is meant to bring uniformity to how stamp duty is assessed and collected across the country.
“This platform is designed to enhance accuracy, accountability, and efficiency in stamp duty assessment and collection for property transfers,” said the Principal Secretary.
He directed land registrars and valuers working in registries where the system has been activated to process all land transfer applications only through the National Stamp Duty Module and to strictly follow the required digital procedures.
According to the State Department, the online system introduces clear audit trails that allow real-time monitoring of assessments and limit opportunities for undue interference in stamp duty valuation.
National Land Information Management System Director Monica Obongo said the automated process strengthens transparency and accountability while also reducing the time required to complete land transactions.
The department said the system is live in 36 registries, with the remaining land offices expected to be brought on board as the rollout continues.
To support the transition, the State Department partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Union to train land officers between August and November 2025.
The training sessions were conducted in eight regional clusters including Malindi, Isiolo, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kajiado, Makueni and Embu, and involved officers from nearby counties.
Members of the public and land sector professionals such as lawyers, surveyors and conveyancing practitioners can now access stamp duty services remotely through the Ardhisasa platform, cutting down on the need for physical visits to registries.
To make a payment, users log into Ardhisasa, initiate a land transaction and generate a stamp duty request.
Once valuation and assessment are completed, payment is made electronically through approved government payment channels.
The State Department has encouraged all stakeholders in the land sector to adopt the digital system as part of ongoing efforts to improve land administration and governance.
