Licensed Land Surveyors in Kenya: How to Find and Verify One
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Before buying land or starting work near a boundary, engage a qualified surveyor to check the parcel against the relevant survey records. A seller’s fence, a broker’s sketch or a phone location pin is not a substitute for this check.
For private cadastral or title-survey work, start with the Land Surveyors’ Board (LSB) register. The Survey Act also recognises authorised government surveyors, so it is too broad to suggest that every survey function is carried out only by private LSB licensees.
How to find a licensed land surveyor
- Open the LSB’s official register.
- Search for the individual’s name. The register lists licence numbers, organisations, addresses and a separate annual practising status.
- Check the status for the relevant year. A name appearing in the register does not necessarily mean the person is currently active. At the time of this review, the register displayed a 2026 status column.
- Match the licence number and identity with the person offering the service. Ask who will supervise the work and take professional responsibility for it.
- Confirm that the surveyor can work in the area where your land is located, then agree on the scope, deliverables, timing and charges in writing. Obtain a receipt for payments.
The register distinguishes licensed surveyors from approved assistants. An assistant’s listing is not the same as an independent surveyor’s licence. LSB says a licensed surveyor needs the Board’s written approval to employ an approved assistant.
Examples from the official register
The following individuals were shown as Active for 2026 when checked on 3 November 2026. This is a small selection, not a ranking, endorsement or complete national list.
| Licensed surveyor | Licence number |
|---|---|
| Philippe A. Zimmerlin | 106 |
| James Kamwere | 109 |
| James Mwarari Gatome | 115 |
| Suleman Abdulshakur Harunani | 117 |
| Peter Gichoho Ngugi | 120 |
Recheck the live register before engaging anyone. Do not treat an old screenshot or this article as proof of continuing practising status.
What to agree before work starts
Give the surveyor the parcel details and available ownership documents. Explain whether you need boundary verification, beacon identification or another specific service. Ask which official records will be consulted and what written output you will receive.
The Lands Department describes survey searches as checks of official survey records, plans and maps for information such as dimensions, beacons and survey numbers. That record check and a visit to the land serve related purposes; ask what your quotation includes.
If boundaries are disputed, use the appropriate land-registration and survey procedure. Do not move beacons, accept a new boundary or assume a private measurement settles the dispute without the required process.
A survey does not replace other purchase checks
Survey work helps establish the physical parcel and its relationship to survey records. It does not, by itself, prove that the seller can transfer ownership or that the title has no restrictions. Arrange a separate official ownership search and legal review of the proposed purchase. For leasehold property, have the relevant rent and lease obligations checked as part of that review.
In a public notice issued on 7 May 2026, LSB warned about unqualified practitioners and the risk of inaccurate records, disputes and financial loss. A referral from a broker or social-media advert is therefore a starting point for verification, not proof of qualification.
Warning: If you cannot match the individual and current practising status in the register, ask the Board to clarify before paying or allowing work to proceed.
