What a search tells you
A search is a certificate from the Ministry of Lands showing what the register says about a parcel today. It confirms:
- who the registered owner is, and whether that matches the seller
- the size and tenure (freehold or leasehold)
- any charge (a loan secured on the land) or caution (someone claiming an interest)
Step by step on Ardhisasa
- Create an account at ardhisasa.lands.go.ke with your ID or passport and KRA PIN.
- Choose “Search” and enter the title or parcel number exactly as the seller gave it.
- Pay the fee (about KES 500) by M-Pesa or card.
- Download the certificate and compare it with the seller’s documents.
Buying from Maxkan? We give you the title number before you pay anything, so you can run the search before you commit.
Reading the result
| Proprietor | Must match the seller, or the company selling. If not, stop. |
|---|---|
| Encumbrances | "Nil" is what you want. A charge means a bank has a claim. |
| Cautions / restrictions | Any entry here needs a lawyer's explanation before you pay. |
If the land isn't online yet
Not every county’s records are on Ardhisasa yet. For those, the search is done at the county land registry with the same details and a similar fee. We can do it with you, or your own lawyer can.