ArdhiSasa, in 2024, remains a critical element in improving Kenya’s land administration services. Previously, land administration in Kenya has long been plagued by inefficiencies, bureaucratic hurdles, and corruption, hindering economic growth and complicating property transactions. In response, the Kenyan government embarked on a transformative journey to modernize land management through the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS), popularly known as ArdhiSasa. Launched as a key initiative under Kenya’s Vision 2030, ArdhiSasa aims to revolutionize the way land records are managed, accessed, and transacted. 

Genesis of ArdhiSasa

ArdhiSasa was conceptualized as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030, a blueprint aimed at transforming Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country. One of the flagship projects under the Vision 2030 land reforms was the establishment of NLIMS. The project was designed to create a transparent, decentralized, and efficient GIS-based system to manage land information. This entailed digitizing land records, deploying an electronic Land Records Management System, and developing a Cadastral Database System, culminating in the comprehensive NLIMS.

The ArdhiSasa platform was officially launched on April 27, 2021, by President Uhuru Kenyatta. This marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards modernizing land administration and ensuring secure, efficient, and transparent land transactions.

Objectives and Components of ArdhiSasa

The primary objectives of ArdhiSasa are to enhance the security of land records, improve accessibility, reduce transaction costs, and eliminate corruption and fraud. The system encompasses various components:

• Land Registration: Includes registration of transfers, cautions, charges, leases, certificates of titles/leases, and conducting searches.
• Land Administration: Covers payment of land rent, land subdivision, extension of leases, change of user, and lease preparation.
• Physical Planning: Involves approval of part development plans, planning document requisition, and issuance of compliance certificates.
• Survey and Mapping: Facilitates subdivision, amalgamation, new grants, re-surveys, and sectional property management.
• Valuation: Encompasses asset valuation, government leasing and purchase, estate administration, and arbitration.
• Adjudication and Settlement: Manages adjudication processes and settlement schemes.
• National Land Commission: Handles land allocation and administration.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Implementation Milestones

Since its inception, ArdhiSasa has achieved significant milestones. The system was first piloted in Nairobi, where it digitized land records and automated land administration processes. The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development has also launched the system in Murang’a County, making it the second county to operationalize NLIMS. Murang’a County records went live on the ArdhiSasa platform on July 8, 2024.

As of the beginning of the 2024/2025 cycle, only three registries are fully covered by NLIMS—two in Nairobi and one in Murang’a. The Ministry’s Strategic Plan aims to extend this coverage to at least eight units by the end of 2023/2024, and progressively to all 71 targeted units by 2027/2028. However, achieving these targets requires deliberate fast-tracking and overcoming existing challenges.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Enhancing Transparency and Reducing Corruption

One of ArdhiSasa’s most significant impacts is in reducing corruption. By digitizing records and enabling online transactions, ArdhiSasa minimizes the need for intermediaries who previously exploited manual record-keeping systems. The platform ensures that only authorized individuals—property owners, financiers, and registered professionals—can access and transact on the system. This reduces opportunities for fraud and enhances the security and confidentiality of land records.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Improving Efficiency and Accessibility

ArdhiSasa has streamlined land transactions, making them faster and more efficient. Property owners can now conduct official searches, transfer titles, pay land rent, and perform other transactions online without visiting land offices. This has significantly improved the ease of doing business and increased accessibility to land services, particularly in Nairobi and Murang’a.

The platform’s user-friendly interface allows individuals and companies to register and navigate through various services. For individual registration, users need their identification details, a registered mobile number, and an email address. Companies require a registration number, a director’s ID number, and a company email address.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Addressing Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its successes, ArdhiSasa faces several challenges. Many Kenyans are still unaware of the system and how to use it, resulting in low uptake of its services. There is a need for extensive public education and awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance and functionality of ArdhiSasa.

Resistance to change is another hurdle. The traditional mindset that land transactions should be conducted through physically signed documents persists. Concerns about online fraud and data security have also made some users wary of fully embracing the system. Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial to address these concerns and ensure widespread acceptance of ArdhiSasa.

Additionally, the quality of data collected during digitization has been a concern. Inaccurate or incomplete records can undermine the system’s reliability. Continuous data validation and prompt rectification of errors by land personnel are essential to maintaining the system’s integrity.

From an operational perspective, the current system does not allow users to track which land official is handling their transaction, complicating follow-ups. Introducing features that enhance transparency and accountability within the system would greatly improve user experience.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Strategic Goals and Roadmap

The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development has outlined a clear roadmap to enhance NLIMS. The Strategic Plan aims to roll out NLIMS services to all land registries, link NLIMS to county offices, reorganize and create inventory for all records, set up critical ICT infrastructure, digitize business processes, and implement cashless systems for revenue collection. By the end of the 2023/2024 cycle, the goal is to have at least eight units covered, with further expansions in subsequent cycles.

The Ministry’s adoption of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform alongside NLIMS reflects its commitment to leveraging modern technology to improve efficiency and service delivery. This integration is expected to enhance project management and operational processes, further supporting the Ministry’s strategic goals.

ArdhiSasa in 2024: Leveraging ArdhiSasa’s YouTube Channel

To help users understand how to navigate and use the ArdhiSasa platform, the system has a dedicated YouTube Channel . With just over 3K subscribers and 58 videos, this channel provides a repository of user tutorials covering a broad range of topics. From step-by-step guides on different services to a host of FAQs, the channel is an invaluable resource for users seeking to solve common issues and maximize their engagement with ArdhiSasa. We encourage users to reference the channel to find solutions to mundane and frequently encountered problems.

Conclusion

ArdhiSasa represents a monumental shift in Kenya’s land administration system. By digitizing land records and enabling online transactions, NLIMS has enhanced transparency, reduced corruption, and improved the efficiency of land services. However, challenges such as public awareness, resistance to change, and data accuracy need to be addressed to fully realize the system’s potential.

As the country moves forward, continuous innovation, stakeholder engagement, and effective implementation of the Ministry’s strategic goals will be crucial in ensuring the success of NLIMS. With a commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accessibility, ArdhiSasa is poised to transform land management in Kenya, driving economic growth and facilitating property transactions for all Kenyans.