The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning has rolled out a fully digital stamp duty processing system, marking a shift from the manual process that has long been blamed for delays and inefficiencies in land transactions.
This is part of ongoing reforms at the department, officials said.
The new system, now operational in 36 land registries across the country, allows stamp duty assessment and payment to be conducted electronically through the National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM), which is integrated into the National Land Information Management System (Ardhisasa).
Previously, stamp duty processing required physical submission of documents, manual assessments and in-person payments, often resulting in congestion at land offices, prolonged transaction timelines and higher error rates.
Under the new framework, users can request stamp duty assessments online and make payments through ArdhiPay, which is linked to the eCitizen platform. Once payment is completed, the system generates an electronic receipt, enabling the land transfer process to proceed without physical follow-ups.
Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary Generali Nixon Korir said the digital module is intended to standardise stamp duty assessment and collection for property transfers.
“This platform is designed to enhance accuracy, accountability, and efficiency in stamp duty assessment and collection for property transfers,” said Korir.
He directed valuers and registrars in registries where the system is live to process all land transfer applications exclusively through the NSDM and to comply with the prescribed system procedures.
According to the State Department, the digital process introduces clear audit trails, enabling real-time oversight and reducing opportunities for arbitrary interference in stamp duty assessments.
Director of the National Land Information Management System, Monica Obongo, said the system-driven process improves transparency and accountability while shortening transaction timelines.
The NSDM is currently operational in 36 registries, with rollout to the remaining land offices ongoing.
To prepare for implementation, the State Department, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union (EU), conducted capacity-building programmes for land officers between August and November 2025.
The training was held across eight regional clusters — Malindi, Isiolo, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kajiado, Makueni and Embu — bringing together officers from neighbouring counties.
Members of the public and land sector professionals, including lawyers, surveyors and conveyancing practitioners, can now access stamp duty services remotely through the Ardhisasa platform, reducing the need for physical visits to land offices.
To make a payment, users log into Ardhisasa, initiate a land transaction and generate a stamp duty request. After valuation and assessment, payment is made electronically through approved government channels.
The State Department encouraged stakeholders to adopt the digital system as the government continues reforms aimed at improving land administration and governance.
The department is rolling out several reforms to seal graft loopholes.
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