Pursuant to the Conversion Manual issued by the Ministry of Lands, the public is advised that all titles

are to be converted from the regimes under Repealed Acts and in accordance with the Land Registration
Act. In this article we seek to demystify the various titles and describe the process of conversion as
provided by the Ministry of Lands.

Repealed Land Registration Systems In Kenya And The Process Of Land Registration Under The New
Regime

Land law in Kenya is characterized by various pieces of Legislation which still dictate the processes in the
issuance of title deeds. Since colonialism, the process of registration and issuance of title has been
governed by multiple statutes. In Kenya there are five land registration systems namely; the Registered
Land Act (RLA), the Registration of Titles Act (RTA), the Land Titles Act (LTA), Registration of Documents
Act (RDA) and the Government Lands Act (GLA) (which have all been repealed) and the Land Registration
Act.

These statutes determined the type of document under which a particular parcel of Land was registered.
Under the Registration of Documents Act (RDA), the Land Titles Act (LTA) and the Government Lands Act
(GLA, the registration system was that of documents or deeds while under the Registration of Titles Act
(RTA) and Registered Land Act (RLA), the registration system was that of titles.

Registration of Documents Act (RDA)

Enacted in 1902, the Act essentially sought to create a register of documents. It provided for both
compulsory and optional registration. The Act made it obligatory to register any document that
purported to confer a right, title or interest in immovable property. However, certain documents could
be registered at the option of the owner such as Building Plans, Wills, Powers of Attorneys and Deed
Polls.

The Lands Title Act (Cap 283 Laws of Kenya)

This act was enacted in 1908 specifically to assist the government to differentiate between private land
and crown land leased from the Sultan of Zanzibar. Persons who were entitled to private land were
issued with Certificates of Ownership giving freehold title. On the other hand, if the title acquired was
leasehold, then Certificates of Mortgage or Certificates of Interest were issued as evidence of
ownership.

The Government Lands Act (Cap 280 Laws of Kenya)

This Act was enacted in 1915 and mostly dealt with land parcels considered as farm land such as land in
Central Province, Kericho and Nairobi. The title deeds issued under this system contained the words
“Indenture”, “Conveyance” or “indenture of conveyance” as part of their heading.

The Registration of Titles Act (Cap 281 Laws of Kenya)

This statute came into force in 1920 with the aim of improving the issuance of titles to land as well as
regulating the same. Just like the Lands Titles Act, under this act, the documents evidencing ownership
were Certificates of Ownership, Mortgage or Interest. The Registered Land Act (Cap 300 Laws of Kenya)

Under the Registered Land Act, A certificate of Lease was issued for leasehold Land and an Absolute title
deed registered where the land in question was freehold land.

The process of conversion of titles

The above statutes have since been repealed and the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning has
embarked on the process of registration of these titles under the newly enacted Land Registration Act,
2012. In order to effect the provisions of the Land Registration Act 2012, all titles issued under the
repealed laws shall be cancelled and replaced with titles under the Land Registration Act, 2012.

Essentially, the process of conversion begins with the preparation of cadastral maps which serve as a
unified survey document together with a conversion list showing the old parcel numbers of land within a
registration unit and their corresponding sizes.

Upon receipt of the cadastral maps and the conversion list from the registrar, the Cabinet Secretary in
charge of the ministry of Land and Physical Planning shall in line with regulation 4 (4) of the Land
Registration (Registration Units) Order, 2017, notify the Public through the Kenya Gazette and two daily
newspapers of nationwide circulation of the list of old parcel numbers and new parcel numbers after
conversion. The Gazette notice shall specify the date after which the land registry shall be open to the
public for transactions or dealings within the registration unit.

Any complaints relating to information in the conversion list or cadastral maps shall file be filed within
ninety (90) days from the date of publication of the notice. The complaints shall be made, in writing in
Form LRA 96 set out in the Second Schedule to the Land Registration (Registration Units) Order, 2017 or
Form LRA 67 set out in the Sixth Schedule to the Land Registration (General) Regulations, 2017 for the
registration of a caution pending the clarification or resolution of any complaint. The complaints shall
thereafter be resolved within ninety (90) after receipt.

At the commencement date, all registers maintained in any other registry previously dealing with the
parcels within the registration unit shall be closed for any subsequent dealings and all transactions
carried out in the new register.

The registrar will then issue a notice inviting registered owners to make an application for replacement
of title documents from the closed registers. The application shall be accompanied by the original title
and the owner’s identification documents. The registrar will then replace the title deeds with new ones
and retain the old title documents for records and safe custody.

However, it is important to note that this conversion does not interfere with the ownership, size and
other interests registered against the respective title. When it comes to titles in the possession of third
parties such as banks, hospitals and courts, the process of conversion shall commence on application by
the proprietor.

Conclusion

The conversion process is an continuing process intended to be carried out in stages. The Ministry of
Lands has already issued a Gazette Notice listing various parcels of Land to be converted. Land
proprietors are expected to be vigilant and compliant with these notices. To this end land owners are
encouraged to confirm whether their properties are listed and make complaints if any within the
stipulated period.

Disclaimer

The content of this document is intended to be of general use only. For specific legal advice on Optiven
Limited Real Estate Investments please do not hesitate to contact us through the contact details
contained below.

Email: legal@optiven.co.ke

Telephone: 0790 300300