Ardhisasa is an online platform that allows
Citizens, other stakeholders and interested parties to interact with land
information held and processes undertaken by Government. It has been developed
jointly by the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning (MoLPP) and the National
Land Commission (NLC) and key partners in Government. It allows the lodgment of
applications for various services offered by the Ministry and the Commission.
The applications are handled through the platform and responses presented
through it.
This National Land Information Management
System (NLIMS), a digital land resource management platform aptly named
Ardhisasa was lunched by the president Uhuru Kenyatta to resolve the historical
problems experienced by Kenyans when undertaking transactions with the lands
registry by easing access and providing a robust, stable and secure platform
where transactions can take place in the click of a button.
You may have missed: How
Ardhisasa affects conveyancing of land in Nairobi
Additionally, Ardhisasa app is currently
under development which will make Ardhisasa a one stop shop for all land
related government services. In the meantime, people can carry out land
transaction on this platform on phone or computer using your browser.
So what should Kenyans know and expect from
this system which actually is one of its own kind in Africa? The following are
the things Kenyans should know about this system.
1. Only
digitized land platform in Africa
The Ardhisasa digital platform is the only
digitized platform in Africa where buyers and sellers of land meet, transact
land transactions and complete all statutory processes in just 48 hours. The
system by April when it was being launched by the President Uhuru Kenyatta had
recorded over 10,000 land transactions and has over 30,000 registered users.
Lessons from elsewhere inform that it takes such high-level champions for
transformative land information management systems such as this to be put in
place
2. Ardhisasa
digital platform is a system made solely in Kenya by Kenyans.
It was developed by an elite team of Kenyan
software engineering practitioners and students. Only New Zealand has a system
as robust as Ardhisasa globally. The governments of Namibia, Ghana, Botswana,
DRC, Nigeria and Egypt have sent teams to understudy the system and replicate
the same in their countries
Also read: Impact
of digitization of land records
3. The Ardhisasa
system will be rolled out in phases.
It is currently being applied in
Nairobi County. This is specially to files in block formats. Thereafter the
digitalization of land services will be rolled out to the rest of the country
in a phased and gradual manner as feedback from users shall be in cooperated
into the system. This project is expected to cover the entire country by the
end of 2022. This means as at today other countries are still using the manual
method of transaction for various land services.
4. The system
will be able to accept requests for routine land transactions.
The Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 2016 (No. 28
of 2016) was assented to by the President on 31 August, 2016 and came into
effect on 21 September, 2016. Areas where changes were made includes, Lessees
pre-emptive rights of allocation, Land Settlement Fund Board of Trustees, Land
Compensation Fund among others. Therefore, the system will be able to accept
requests for routine land transactions because these land laws were recently
amended to support the signing, submission, processing and even paying government
fees electronically.
5. The system
will enhance efficiency and reduce transaction time.
At the click of a button, citizens will carry
out online transactions, drastically reducing human interactions. This will
make it possible for anyone who want to do transaction to do it from anywhere.
Unlike old manual where one has to physically visit the ministry of land
offices, this system will provide Kenyans with ease when they are doing the
transaction.
Must Read: How
the process of digitization works though ardhisasa at Ardhi House
6. Manual
processing
As per the ministry advisory, all
transactions relating to properties under the repealed RLA, except apartments,
shall, going forward, be processed through the Ardhisasa system. That
notwithstanding, for matters where the registration and stamping process had
commenced through the manual system, the transaction shall be completed
manually.
For instance, if you have a property in
Nairobi registered under the repealed RLA, that is not an apartment, you need
to log onto the system, register yourself and conduct a search on your property
to see if it is in the system. If your property does not appear, you can reach
out to ministry of land officials and they shall assist you to investigate and
ascertain if the land is classified as a disputed title or public land
thereafter guide you on the way forward.
7. Customer care
support.
For propertied senior citizens unschooled on
digital platforms who are apprehensive that their property details may be
exposed to third parties as they seek help are advised not to panic. This
because landowners whose properties are not in the system should not panic; the
ministry has got a robust team of customer care agents who are available 24
hours a day to guide you through the process of uploading your property, and a
special team that will help you verify the authenticity of your property.
Explained: How
Ardhisasa will curb fraud on land transactions
8. Misplaced
leasehold files from other counties
Through Ardhisasa, the Ministry is addressing
and shall continue to address the issue of missing land records. Where the
records are not traced, the process to reconstruct shall follow. Ones all land
shall have been digitized, there shall be no issues of missing files because
all the records shall be kept in digital format.
9. The platform
will increase revenue generation.
Due to proper valuation, and payment of land
rents as well as improve urban planning and infrastructure development.
Ardhisasa has been integrated with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) systems
which will boost revenue collection by sealing tax loopholes that have always
been exploited by unscrupulous traders. This system will be able to track all
property owners who some have not been paying land rents and other taxes. It is
also expected to boost the on-going national titling programme of securing
rights to land through issuance of titles
The government collects revenue when one buys
land and pays stamp duty, land rent, capital gains and all the taxes associated
with land transactions. With this platform, taxes henceforth be channeled
directly to KRA because of the integrated platforms so that KRA is able to
monitor in real time who is paying taxes, which taxes and how much is being
paid.
Don't Miss: Online
Land Search in Kenya through Ardhisasa
10. Minimize fraud and corruption that
have pervaded land offices.
This system when fully operational will
relieve innocent Kenyans from exploitation by cartels, middlemen and
fraudsters. Missing files, perennial fraud, corruption and illegal land
transactions. During the launch, the President said, this system will help
Kenyans from missing files and from corrupt brokers at Ardhi house The system
will resolve the land problem as it will provide an updated, verified database
of land records that are easily available, President Kenyatta said.
Ardhisasa was developed with strict security
protocols to ensure only data that is valid and complete, and whose integrity
we can vouch for, is ingested into the system. Therefore, any property that has
discrepancies in its documentation is currently not available for transaction.
Said former Cabinet Secretary, Farida Karoney.
Join the Discussion: How
Ardhisasa will help Kenyan Government achieve big four agenda
Conclusion
Ardhisasa is a system has greatly altered the
usual operation in Ardhi house and land sector in general for the entire
country. However, its usage is still not clear to many Kenyans. Here at premier
we have professional who can help you with all the services you may require.
Always check our website for new updates.
