Gov't to review Mombasa public land data ahead of Ardhisasa rollout

The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning has initiated stakeholder engagements to verify public land data in Mombasa County as it prepares to roll out Ardhisasa services in the region.

The department has been conducting a data validation exercise over the past month in readiness for the launch. According to Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, a stakeholder workshop will be held next week to support these efforts.

"One of the key objectives of the stakeholder engagement workshop is to ensure the accuracy of public land information on the Ardhisasa cadastre," said PS Korir.

The meeting will bring together officials from the Mombasa County Government, National Land Commission, Water Resources Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya National Highways Authority, the Law Society of Kenya, Kenya Bankers Association, and the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, among others.

Following this forum, the State Department plans to hold a series of targeted sessions for professionals such as lawyers, bankers, and surveyors—critical actors in land transactions. These forums aim to offer practical guidance on using the Ardhisasa system for various land-related services.

The department also continues to host webinars and provide instructional videos online to educate the public on how to use Ardhisasa.

Similar stakeholder engagement initiatives are planned for Isiolo County, which is also scheduled to begin transactions on Ardhisasa in the near future. Mombasa and Isiolo will join Nairobi and Murang’a, where the digital platform is already operational.

Ardhisasa is an online land information management system that enables Kenyans to access and transact land-related services digitally. The platform has enhanced land tenure security and minimized challenges associated with manual processes, such as human interference and fraud.

Since its launch in Nairobi in April 2021, Ardhisasa faced initial resistance from stakeholders, resulting in stalled transactions and revenue losses. Upon assuming office, PS Korir prioritized engagement with professional groups including the Law Society of Kenya, Kenya Bankers Association, and the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya. These efforts culminated in August 2023, when the groups endorsed the system following the incorporation of their recommendations.

Despite the progress, the nationwide rollout of Ardhisasa has been constrained by limited funding. A budget readjustment last year saw over Ksh.400 million slashed from the digitization plans for Mombasa, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Baringo Counties.

Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands in February, PS Korir emphasized the need for adequate funding to successfully digitize and automate land records.

In 2024, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome told Parliament that the full digitization of land records across all 47 counties would cost between Ksh.35 billion and Ksh.40 billion.