Ruto Announces Major Stamp Duty Relief for Kenyans Buying Land Worth KSh1 Million or Less

President William Ruto has announced a proposed stamp duty exemption for Kenyans purchasing or transferring land valued at KSh1 million or less, a move that could significantly reduce the cost of property ownership for low- and middle-income households.

The President made the announcement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

He said the National Treasury had developed proposals aimed at easing the financial burden associated with land transactions.

Under the proposal, transactions involving land worth KSh1 million or below would be exempted from stamp duty, while higher-value transactions would be subjected to progressive rates.

The government says the proposed changes are intended to make land acquisition and property transfers more affordable, particularly for Kenyans with modest incomes.

Currently, stamp duty is charged at 4 per cent for qualifying property transactions within municipalities and 2 per cent outside municipalities.

This means a buyer purchasing land worth KSh1 million could currently pay as much as KSh40,000 in stamp duty in a municipality, or KSh20,000 outside one.

If approved, the exemption would eliminate this particular cost for qualifying transactions.

For many aspiring homeowners and small-scale investors, the proposed relief could make a meaningful difference.

Saving tens of thousands of shillings during a land purchase could allow buyers to redirect money towards construction, legal expenses, fencing or other costs associated with settling on newly acquired property.

However, prospective buyers should note that the announcement does not mean the exemption is already in force.

Ruto directed the National Treasury to submit the proposals to Parliament within a week for consideration.

The necessary legal and administrative processes must therefore be completed before the measure can be implemented.

The proposed exemption also does not automatically remove other expenses linked to land transactions, including conveyancing costs, valuation fees and applicable county land rates.

The announcement comes as the government continues reviewing the cost of living and the financial barriers facing ordinary Kenyans.

It also follows the President’s recent concerns over excessive subdivision of agricultural land into increasingly smaller parcels.

If Parliament approves the proposal, the measure could offer a significant financial boost to Kenyans seeking affordable land and potentially make property ownership more accessible to thousands of households.

https://peopledaily.digital/business/ruto-announces-stamp-duty-exemption-for-land-worth-ksh1m-and-below?fbclid=IwY2xjawVEM3JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHoDJIuaXpTTlIOqM3n8AKiyJ22peNo1VdLtn21E25MfNyBnGvJSbRUB6Xksp_aem__T8O2bjDFhQDP–lvmawHw

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