Nobody drafts a land sale agreement while imagining a funeral. The seller is healthy, the buyer is excited and the clauses that get attention are the price, the deposit and the completion date. But land sales take time. Searches, Land Control Board consent, valuation, payment in instalments and registration can stretch across months or years. Anyone can die in that window, whether seller or buyer, and...

You can inspect a plot’s title deed, verify its boundaries, and check the access road. But the single factor that most impacts what your house will cost to build is completely invisible: the soil beneath it. Two plots of the exact same size, located just a few kilometres apart, can require completely different foundations. One plot may allow a builder to dig simple trenches and pour concrete. The...

Buying a plot is an important milestone, but preparing it properly for construction is what turns a piece of land into a viable building site. Before laying the foundation of your dream home, you need to understand the ground conditions, confirm the exact boundaries of your property and obtain the necessary approvals. Skipping these steps can expose you to costly foundation problems, boundary disputes,...

Kenya is moving to tighten regulation of construction professionals following a series of building collapses that have raised concerns about structural safety, professional accountability and compliance with construction standards. The proposed reforms could expose unqualified practitioners to fines of up to KSh 2 million or imprisonment, as the government seeks to strengthen oversight of the country’s...

Kenya’s proposed Dangote refinery is rapidly evolving from an energy headline into a major real estate development catalyst. President William Ruto recently announced a KSh7.5 billion commitment to construct 3,000 housing units in Lamu County to accommodate the expanding workforce expected as the refinery project takes shape. For Kenya's property market, this development provides a concrete case study...

Two adjacent plots, one perimeter wall, and almost never a written agreement stating who is legally responsible for its upkeep. It is one of the most frequent sources of friction in Kenyan residential estates—and one of the least scrutinised issues before buyers close a property deal. Whether a stone wall begins to lean after heavy rains, structural cracks appear along the mortar joints, or...

Ask ten people in Kenyan real estate what a "green card" is, and you'll likely get two different answers. Both describe real documents, but confusing the two can cost you millions. That semantic overlap in green card land Kenya terminology is precisely what dishonest sellers and land brokers exploit. To protect your investment, you need to understand the two distinct meanings of a green card, how to...

Kenya’s mortgage market is showing renewed growth, with lower average interest rates, larger loans and longer repayment periods helping more buyers finance property purchases. However, affordability remains a major hurdle for households seeking to own homes. Kenya’s residential real estate market is entering 2026 with renewed activity in mortgage financing, offering fresh opportunities for...

Kenya’s real estate market could be heading for a major transformation following the groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu County. The proposed US$16 billion, or roughly KSh 2 trillion, investment is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily and will include petrochemical facilities and a power plant. If construction and supporting infrastructure proceed...

You have identified a prime plot, the official land search comes back clean showing a single registered owner, and the seller is eager to complete the transaction. During negotiations, you notice a wedding ring or the seller casually mentions their spouse. Does a seller's marital status affect your land purchase? Under Kenyan property law, it can void the entire transaction. Under Article 45 of the...