Houseland Investment · Buying Land in Kenya
Secrets Hidden in the Mother Title: Why Subdivision History Matters
When buying a plot created through subdivision, an extensive land search should go beyond the individual title. It should trace the mother title from which the plot originated and examine how the original parcel was subdivided.
This can reveal important information about the land's history, including the original acreage, previous ownership, registered charges or restrictions, cautions, disputes, easements, access roads and the subsequent subdivisions. It can also help establish whether the individual plot being sold can be properly traced back to the original parcel and whether the subdivision was properly documented.
In other words, don't just ask “Is this plot title genuine?” Ask “Where did this plot come from, and what happened to the mother parcel?”
A proper land investigation should therefore examine the current title, Green Card/land register, mother title, RIM, deed plan, survey records and subdivision history, where applicable.
This is an important distinction for someone buying a plot from a large subdivided parcel: the individual title may look clean while the history of the mother parcel can contain information that is relevant to understanding the transaction.