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Yes, subject to Kenyan land laws. Non-citizens generally may hold land only through leasehold interests of up to 99 years. We verify the tenure and any additional restrictions before you commit.

Freehold tenure ordinarily does not have a fixed expiry date. Leasehold tenure grants rights for a defined period, subject to conditions such as rent, permitted use and renewal rules. Under Article 65 of Kenya’s Constitution, a non-citizen cannot hold freehold land and is limited to leasehold tenure of up to 99 years.

A company is considered a Kenyan citizen for Article 65 landholding purposes only if it is wholly owned by Kenyan citizens. Incorporating a company in Kenya does not automatically make its landholding eligible for freehold ownership. A foreign-owned or partly foreign-owned company must comply with non-citizen landholding restrictions.

A suitably established trust may be appropriate for estate planning, family governance or management of permissible property interests. But it cannot circumvent foreign ownership rules: for Article 65 purposes, trust land is regarded as held by a citizen only where all beneficial interests belong to citizens. The Trust Administration Act, 2026 also introduces registration, reporting and beneficial-ownership obligations.

Generally, a KRA PIN is needed for land registration and tax-related formalities. Non-resident buyers may be required to submit a passport, executed agreement, relevant title documentation and a tax-agent appointment, depending on the application category. WKA can coordinate the documentation and process.

ArdhiSasa is Kenya’s government digital land-services system. Where the particular property and registry service are supported, parties and professionals may need appropriate accounts and verification. The exact identity and registration process should be confirmed for non-citizens and the applicable registry; not every transaction follows an identical digital workflow.

For standard land transfers, stamp duty is generally 4% of the assessed value for property within municipalities and 2% outside municipalities, subject to the applicable classification, assessment and exemptions. It is ordinarily a buyer-side cost. We confirm the assessment rather than promise a rate based solely on whether a title is freehold or leasehold.

In addition to the purchase price and stamp duty, budget for legal fees, VAT where applicable, official searches, valuation, registration, surveys where needed, apportionments of land rates or rent, and financing charges if applicable. VAT on the underlying sale depends on the property and transaction; seller-side taxes such as capital gains tax should be allocated expressly in the contract.

A sectional title is a separate registrable title for an individual unit in a building, with associated rights and obligations relating to shared property. We verify the sectional plan, unit boundaries, underlying tenure, management corporation, service charges and any outstanding obligations. Not all apartments already have sectional titles.

Off-plan purchases carry development and delivery risks. We review the developer and mother title, approvals, financing or encumbrances, construction timetable, payment milestones, variation rights, refund and default provisions, and the arrangements for eventual transfer of a registrable interest.

Many steps can be completed from abroad using agreed remote processes, with properly executed and authenticated documents or powers of attorney when permitted. Some identification, signing, bank or registry requirements may still demand particular formalities. We confirm these at the outset.

We undertake official title searches and examine the title chain, seller identification and authority, encumbrances, rates and rent, consents, survey records and, where indicated, ground-level verification. No single search substitutes for a complete due-diligence review.

Ideally, engage independent legal counsel before paying a non-refundable deposit or signing binding commitments. The sale agreement should spell out escrow or stakeholder arrangements, conditions precedent, remedies, refund triggers and release instructions suited to the transaction.

Agricultural land has additional controls, including the Land Control Act and other restrictions. A foreign buyer should not assume that any particular parcel is transferable or that a company or trust will resolve eligibility. We assess classification, consents and lawful alternatives before contractual commitments.

Usually, a validly acquired property interest may be leased, transferred or financed subject to title conditions, relevant consents, management rules, tax obligations and the prevailing law. We can also act on later acquisitions, dispositions and portfolio restructuring.

No. Land ownership does not in itself grant residence or work authorization. Immigration eligibility must be assessed separately; WKA also advises on appropriate investment and immigration pathways.

We can coordinate repeat acquisitions, standardized due diligence, acquisition vehicles, shareholder or trust documentation, lease reviews, financing and portfolio disposals, subject to a tailored engagement and conflict check.

Legal fees depend on the value, complexity, tenure, ownership structure and extent of due diligence. We provide a written scope, professional fee quote and anticipated disbursements before beginning. Consultations are professional, fee-paying engagements.