Buying Land in Marsabit and Samburu: Northern Kenya's Arid Lands

Marsabit and Samburu counties cover much of northern and central Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands. These are among Kenya's least densely populated counties, home to pastoralist communities (Borana, Gabbra, Rendille, Samburu, and others) who have used the land through traditional rotational grazing systems for generations.

For property buyers, these counties present a different land tenure landscape from agricultural Kenya.

---

Community Land Tenure is Dominant

The vast majority of Marsabit and Samburu land is held as community land, not as individual private freehold or leasehold. The Community Land Act 2016 provides the framework for registering community land.

The practical implication for buyers: you cannot simply buy rural land in these counties the way you would buy a plot in Kiambu. The land belongs to the community, and any transaction must comply with community land law.

Community land transactions require:

Community consent through a formal process. Compliance with the Community Land Act 2016. Registration of the transaction at the county community land register.

---

What Can Be Privately Bought

Some urban and peri-urban areas in these counties have private land that can be transacted in the conventional way:

Marsabit town and its surroundings have some registered plots. Maralal (Samburu County headquarters) has urban plots. Areas adjacent to tourism lodges and conservancies may have private or leased land.

For these areas, the standard Kenya land transaction process applies. The registries are at Marsabit (Marsabit County) and Maralal (Samburu County).

---

Community Conservancies and Tourism Land

Northern Kenya is home to a significant private wildlife conservancy sector — community-owned wildlife areas that generate income from tourism. Northern Rangelands Trust, African Wildlife Foundation, and many individual conservancies operate in these counties.

Land within or adjacent to conservancies may be subject to conservation agreements. These agreements are sometimes available for investors to participate in by acquiring a long-term lease over community land for specific tourism development purposes.

This is a specialised transaction type with specific legal requirements. It is not the same as buying a standard plot.

---

Due Diligence for Urban Plots

For the limited areas where standard private land transactions occur:

Confirm the land type (private vs community land). Use the local Land Registry (Marsabit or Maralal). A physical field verification is essential given the remoteness and the difficulty of other parties checking the land.

Full field verification: KSh 25,500 — remote county verifier.

---

What Litmus Cannot Verify for Community Land

Litmus verifies registered individual titles. For community land without individual registration, there is no formal title to verify. Due diligence in these areas requires a specialist approach, including legal advice on community land law and engagement with the relevant community governance structures.

---

This article is for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice. For northern Kenya community land transactions, consult a qualified Kenya advocate with expertise in community land law.