Govt Targets Sh19 Billion Revenue Boost with New Digital Stamp Duty System

By Ben Okweingoti 

The government, through the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, has rolled out the National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM) in a bid to enhance revenue collection, transparency, and efficiency in land transactions. The digital system is expected to generate Sh19 billion in revenue this financial year.

Speaking in Malindi, Kilifi County, during a five-day training workshop for land officers from the Coast region, Lands Secretary Sarah Maina said the new system will streamline operations and strengthen the Ardhisasa platform, in line with the constitutional requirement of bringing government services closer to the people.

“As a State Department, we are training our land valuers and registrars on the new system with the target of collecting Sh19 billion this financial year. We must continue creating awareness of Ardhisasa and strengthen collaboration across stations to ensure seamless service delivery and improved revenue collection,” she said.

The NSDM has already been deployed in Mombasa, Ruiru, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Central registries, where manual transactions for stamp duty payments and valuations have been eliminated.

Director of the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) Ms. Monica Obongo said the system, backed by Principal Secretary Generali Nixon Korir, has the potential to greatly boost government revenues while improving accountability. She lauded the partnership with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), describing them as critical in linking government services with local communities.

The training, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU), is designed to equip officers with practical skills in using NSDM and Ardhipay for stamp duty assessments and valuation processing.

FAO’s Digital Land Governance Programme Manager Husna Abdallah Mbarak reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting digitization efforts in Kenya’s land sector. “FAO-EU remains dedicated to working with the government to enhance service delivery through technical support and capacity building,” she said.

Officials emphasized that the training also instills values of integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service. Once fully rolled out, the NSDM is expected to cut transaction delays, curb fraudulent practices, and guarantee the public faster and more reliable land services.

Senior officials present included Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro, Director of ICT Leonard Maritim, Director of Human Resource and Management Development Janerose Karanja, and Head of Public Communications Jibril Adan.