Kenyans Warned About Land Agency Spreading Fake News On Govt

The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning has publicly disassociated itself from eArdhi Group Holdings Ltd, warning the public about false claims being spread by the company.

In a statement released on Wednesday, May 21, the department made it clear that it has no ties or relationship with the company, which has been advertising services falsely linked to ArdhiSasa and the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS).

The department criticised the company for claiming to provide training on using the ArdhiSasa platform, saying this misleads people into thinking they have to pay for services that are supposed to be free.

“The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning wishes to notify the general public that it has no association or affiliation with an entity called ‘eArdhi Group Holdings Ltd’.

"The entity has been circulating promotional materials and advertisements suggesting that the State Department, through its known land management platform, ArdhiSasa, the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS), is associated with or in any way endorses their activities. The activities they promote reportedly include coaching on how to use the ArdhiSasa platform for a fee,” the statement read in part.

Ardhisasa is a digital platform that facilitates land transactions and gives users access to land-related services. Through it, users can perform land searches, register property transfers, pay land rent, and use services like physical planning and valuation—all online.

The Department stated that free tutorials on how to use the platform are available on its official social media channels. It also emphasised that only experts from within the department are authorised to provide support for Ardhisasa.

The ministry has also cautioned the company against copying its training materials or falsely presenting itself as being in any kind of partnership with the department.

"It is legally wrong to mislead the public and create the impression that the State Department is charging for public education services that are offered for free," the department said.

"A full inventory of free and up-to-date tutorials ranging from the basics of opening an account to the more specialised operations targeting professional groups like lawyers, available at no cost on our media platforms."

The ministry has called on the company to stop all promotional activities that suggest any affiliation or approval from government systems.

It also reaffirmed its dedication to making land services digital and automated, emphasising that this will be done without passing extra costs onto the public, in a bid to maintain transparency and accessibility.

“While the entity is within its rights to engage in any legal business, it should immediately cease marketing itself as having any endorsement or partnership with the State Department of Lands and Physical Planning or its systems,” the statement added.

“In this regard, we distance ourselves from the attempt to create the impression that the digitisation and automation of land services come with more costs for users — the opposite of the aims and achievements of our land reforms."