The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning has concluded the nationwide training on the National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM) after completing the final cluster workshop in Embu on Friday marking a major milestone in land digitalisation.
The workshop brought together valuers, registrars, and key land administration officers, marking a significant step in the ministry’s efforts to modernise revenue collection and strengthen accountability in land transactions.
The programme, conducted across eight regional clusters from August to November 2025, equipped officers with practical skills to operate, navigate, and process transactions seamlessly on the NSDM digital platform.
The training series began in Malindi, then moved to Isiolo, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kajiado, Makueni, and concluded in Embu—bringing together counties within each region for harmonised learning and peer collaboration.
Speaking during the closing session, Lands Secretary Sarah Maina reaffirmed the government’s commitment to full digital transformation in the land sector.
She emphasised that Ardhisasa, Kenya’s national digital land management platform, is central to delivering secure, efficient, and transparent public services.
Ms Maina highlighted the National Stamp Duty Module as one of the flagship components of the digital ecosystem, designed to enhance accuracy and deepen accountability in revenue collection.
“The module enables real-time verification of payments and channels all remittances directly to the National Treasury, eliminating loopholes that have historically exposed the system to leakages,” she noted.
She said the National Stamp Duty Module guarantees full traceability and verifiability of every transaction.
“Digitization is not just a convenience; it is our strongest weapon against inefficiency and revenue loss. With Ardhisasa, every officer is empowered to serve Kenyans with speed, integrity, and accountability,” she said.
To further support staff, the Lands Secretary issued computers to officers to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
She reminded officers to complete land searches within three days and prepare for upcoming initiatives, including the issuance of sectional titles under the Affordable Housing Programme.
She encouraged staff to familiarise themselves with the Sectional Properties Act, noting that under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the government is set to begin processing titles for sectional units in affordable housing projects.
The Secretary also appreciated the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union (EU) through the Digital Land Governance Programme for their collaboration during the training.
Embu West Sub-county Assistant County Commissioner Charles Opiyo commended the State Department for integrating National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) into the training, noting that collaboration strengthens service delivery.
“Working together helps us tackle challenges more effectively. It’s time to move beyond the silo mentality and actively implement practical solutions,” he said.
Once fully integrated into the Ardhisasa platform, the NSDM will automate workflows, eliminate manual handling, seal revenue leakages, and reduce delays thus delivering faster processing and improved transparency for citizens and officers alike.
The State Department is now preparing to onboard the module into Ardhisasa, streamlining the assessment, verification, and processing of stamp duty, a critical government revenue stream.
By Samuel Waititu and Catherine Muindi – IO lands
