Price Of Buying Land In Kenya

The price of land in Kenya is Sh.1 million-Sh.600 million per acre on average. These prices vary depending on where the land is located. The price of buying land in Kenyan rural areas is Sh.1 million-Sh.30 million per acre on average. The closer the land is to an urban center, the higher the buying price. On average, the price of buying land in Kenyan urban centers is Sh.5 million-Sh.600 million. Apart from the location of land, other factors affect the price of buying land in Kenya, as we will show you.

The price of land increases with the availability of amenities. Land prices, therefore, change from time to time with the growth of the economy around the area it is located. Generally, lands grow in value with time whether there is a rise in the economy around the area. Another factor that affects the price of buying land is the size of the land. The price of buying 50 by 100 land in Kenya is Sh.500,000-Sh.20 million on average. The price of buying land in Kenya also depends on the land size. Different land sizes have different prices depending on the location of the land.

Land Size & Prices In Kenya

Land size	Price
5 acres	Sh.10 million-Sh.1.2 billion
10 acres	Sh.20 million-Sh.6 billion
25 acres	Sh.50 million-Sh.15 billion
50 acres	Sh.100 million-Sh.30 billion
100 acres	Sh.200 million-Sh.60 billion

Price Of Buying Land In Major Cities In Kenya

1. Price of buying land in Nairobi

The price of buying land in Nairobi county is Sh.9 million-Sh.600 million per acre on average. The price of land in Nairobi depends on the following factors:

• Land proximity to the central business district (CBD): Buying land in Nairobi CBD is the most expensive. The closer a land is to the CBD, the more the buying price. Due to this factor, Nairobians buy lands further from the central city. Land in areas like Kamulu and Syokimau, on the outskirts, have been bought rapidly.
• Land proximity to a highway or an airport: The price of buying land situated along a highway is relatively expensive. Lands bordering Thika Highway, Jogoo Road, Lang’ata Road, Mombasa Road, and Ngong’ Road, among other major roads, have high prices. The further your land is located from a highway, the cheaper the buying price.
• Property on land: Buying land with an existing property, e.g., buildings, will be relatively higher than empty land. The condition of the property will determine the buying price. The price of land with a property in good condition is more expensive than one with old or damaged property.

2. Price of buying land in Mombasa

The price of buying land in Mombasa is Sh.5 million-Sh.200 million per acre on average. These prices vary depending on the following factors:

• The proximity of the land to a beach: Buying land close to the beach is relatively expensive. The prices of land close to Nyali Beach are high, and the prices of land close to Diani Beach are even more expensive.
• The proximity of the land to the Mombasa central business district (CBD): The closer your land is to the CBD, the more the buying price. Buying land in the CBD is the most expensive in Mombasa, and it reduces the further you go from the city.
• The proximity of the land to major roads or airports: Buying land along major roads is relatively expensive. The closer a land is to a major road, the more the price. The prices reduce as you go further from major roads.

3. Price of buying land in Kisumu

The price of buying land in Kisumu is Sh.6 million-Sh. Fifty million per acre on average. The prices vary depending on the following factors:

• The proximity of the land to Kisumu CBD or an urban center: The price of buying land in the CBD or around the CBD is relatively more expensive compared to buying land in the outskirts. The closer the land is to the CBD, the higher the buying price.
• The proximity of the land to a major road, airport, and lake: Buying land along the major highway is relatively expensive. The further you go from the highway, the cheaper the prices of buying land. Lands near the airport and Lake Victoria are relatively higher than in other areas.
• Property on land: The price of land with property is relatively higher than land without establishments. The total price of land with property is when the value of the property is added to the price of the land. In that case, when the property’s value is high, the price of the land will be higher even if the size is not big.

Process Of Buying Land In Kenya

1. Locate and verify the existence of land

The first step is to confirm that the land exists before starting other processes. You will visit the land and have the buyer show you around. After verifying that the land truly exists and you are certain you want to buy, request a copy of the title needed. You will need a copy of the title deed to continue with the buying process. This will not confirm the existence of land beyond doubt, but knowing this is important because the following steps will require you to spend money.

2. Hire a real estate lawyer

After obtaining a copy of the title deed, hire a real estate lawyer to guide you through the next steps. Hiring a lawyer is important to avoid being swindled by land sellers. Apart from being swindled, a lawyer will make the process less tiresome. A lawyer also ensures you do not leave anything that may cost you unsolved. After hiring a professional lawyer, you can move to the next step.

3. Visit the Ministry of Lands

Here, you will visit the office of the land registry to confirm the land’s existence officially. You will require a copy of the land’s title deed to conduct an official search of the land. While at the land registry, you will confirm the size of the land, the owner of the land, and whether there are pending rates yet to be paid. You can visit land registry offices with your lawyer. A lawyer will help you notice minute issues on the land that may cost you in the future. After confirming everything is as the seller said, you can proceed to the next step.

4. Get the survey map of the land

While still at the land registry office, you can go to the next step. Here you will acquire the survey map of the land. This is important to ensure that the land size is accurate compared to what the seller told you. A survey map has all the measurements of the land. Once the land measurements are accurate, you can move on to the next step.

5. Negotiate prices with the seller and make a sale agreement

In this step, you will sit down with the seller and agree on the price per your research on the land. Having a professional with you is important to lead you through the negotiations. The initial price of the land can be dropped if you have evidence of some aspects that devalue the land in question. Your lawyer and the land owner’s lawyer will construct a sales agreement on how the money should be transferred, and both of you will sign once you reach an agreement.

After you and the seller agree on one price, the next step will be to choose a favorable payment means for both of you. When doing this, ensure you choose a safe way to pay for the land. The best way to pay for land is from the buyer’s bank account to the seller’s bank account. Payment in cash is highly discouraged because the chances of being swindled are very high with cash payments. Ensure there are witnesses for both parties in case of a fallout in the coming future.

6. Apply for valuation of land

The next step is to apply for land valuation at the land registry offices. Government officers will visit the land and decide on the price that suits the land. After they agree on the value of the land, you will be required to pay a fee for the stamp duty. The government officers who evaluate the land will decide on the price of the stamp duty depending on the value of the land.

7. Sign transfer forms and acquire the title deed

The final step is acquiring valid transfer forms from the land registry. The owner and the buyer will both sign the necessary transfer forms in the presence of a witness.

The buyer will complete payment to be given the title deed. Afterward, the buyer will hand over the transfer forms to the land registry offices. They will confirm the authenticity of the transfer forms. If nothing is amiss, they will register the transfer forms. You will then be given a new title document. You can download a sample land agreement pdf document below.

Factors That Affect The Price Of Buying Land In Kenya

1. The proximity of the land to a major city or an urban center

Buying land in a city or an urban center is more expensive than buying land in rural areas. Land prices vary depending on how close the land is to a city. As you draw closer to a city or an urban center, the price of buying land increases. The most expensive lands are located at the center of a city or an urban center. These lands are usually bought for business purposes. Therefore, they cost more because the chances of returns are very high. Even without setting an establishment on the land, it will still grow in value quickly due to its strategic location.

2. Property on land

The price of buying land in Kenya will depend on whether there is an existing property on the land. The buying price is relatively high when a valuable property is on the land. The price of the land will increase depending on the value of the property on the land. The total price is determined by adding the price of the land to the value of the property on the land.

3. Land fertility

The price of buying land intended for plantation will depend on the level of land fertility. This is most common in rural areas, where lands are often purchased for cultivation. The price of buying fertile land is relatively higher compared to the price of buying infertile land. A fertile land is sure to make profits which is the main reason for high prices. Another aspect is fertile lands have high demand. To get the land, you will have to pay higher than what your competitors are offering.

4. Proximity of land to highways or major roads and airports or airstrips

The price of buying land in Kenya depends on how close it is to a highway, airport, or airstrip. The closer the land is to a transportation medium, the more expensive the buying price. The price increases due to the convenience of setting up a business or having your home close to the road. When transporting products or taking a journey yourself, you will not use much money compared to land owners in the interiors. The demand for land close to the road and an airport is high. This is another reason for the high prices. Competitors keep offering high amounts, and the only way to buy the land is by offering a higher amount for buying the land.

5. Proximity of land to tourist attraction sites, e.g., National parks & Beaches

The price of buying land in Kenya depends on how close the land is to a tourist attraction site. The price of land is relatively expensive when it is very close to a tourist attraction site. The reason is with a tourist attraction site; one can make a large profit if they set up a business on the land. Tourists pay higher for services and goods. This means that lands close to beaches and national parks have a lot of buyers looking to acquire them, especially entrepreneurs. With high competition, a buyer needs to offer a higher amount than the rest.

6. Legal requirements

Buying land is very crucial because of the high chances of being conned in the process. It is difficult to confirm the real owner of the land without following all the legal processes. In the process of buying land, you will need to pay the valuation application fee so that the government can determine the accurate value of the land. One also has to hire a lawyer just to be sure not to miss anything because a lot of money is at stake when buying land. After the land valuation, you must pay a fee for the stamp duty. In addition, you will need to have a budget for hiring a surveyor and land transfer forms, among other mandatory documents.

FAQs