To check whether someone is one of the registered estate agents in Kenya, look for their name in the list the Estate Agents Registration Board (EARB) publishes in the Kenya Gazette. The 2026 list came out in Kenya Gazette No. 56 of 27 March 2026, as Gazette Notice No. 4432 for individual agents and No. 4433 for estate agency companies. If the name is not there, ask the agent for their current practising certificate and confirm it with the Board before any money moves.
That is the short answer. The longer one matters more if you are buying from abroad, because the agent is often the only person you have spoken to. They found the plot, sent the WhatsApp video, introduced the "owner" and gave you the account details for the deposit. Everything you know about the deal came through them.
What the law says about registered estate agents in Kenya
The Estate Agents Act (Cap. 533) sets the rules. A few sections are worth knowing by number, because you can quote them back to anyone who brushes off your questions.
- Section 18 says no individual may practise as an estate agent unless registered. For a firm, every partner or director who does agency work must be registered. Since the 2025 amendments, the maximum fine is one million shillings for an individual and five million for a company.
- Section 8(4) says a certificate of registration is valid for one year and must be renewed. A certificate from 2023 tells you the person was registered in 2023.
- Section 9 requires the registrar to publish the names, addresses and qualifications of registered agents in the Gazette, and to publish a full list at the start of each year.
- Section 10 says that if a name is missing from the published list, that is prima facie evidence the person is not registered.
- Section 19 requires every practising agent to carry an indemnity bond or insurance that pays out to people who lose money through the agent's dishonesty or misconduct.
The Act also lists who does not need to register. An advocate acting in their own practice, a licensed auctioneer selling by auction, and the owner of the property selling their own land are all outside it. So if the person you are dealing with says they are the owner, the agent check does not apply. What you check then is whether they are really the registered owner, which is a land search and an ID check, not an EARB check.
How to check the EARB list, step by step
- Get the agent's full name, registration number and firm name in writing. A WhatsApp message is fine. "Mr K from Ruiru" is not a name you can check.
- Open the 2026 Gazette list. Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVIII No. 56 is free to read on Kenya Law. Notice No. 4432 lists individual agents who had renewed their annual practising certificates as at 27 March 2026, with name, registration number, qualification and postal address. Notice No. 4433 lists estate agency companies. The EARB also posted a notice about the publication on its website and asks the public to use it when choosing an agent.
- Match all three details. The name, the registration number and the address should line up with what the agent gave you. A real name with the wrong number is a reason to stop.
- If the name is missing, ask for the current practising certificate. Some agents renew after the gazette date, so absence is not proof of fraud. Ask for a photo of the certificate, then confirm it directly with the EARB using the contacts on the Board's own website, not a number the agent gives you.
- Check the company too. If the agent works through a firm, look for the firm in Notice No. 4433. Under section 18, a company practising as an estate agent needs its agency directors registered.
What a valid EARB licence does not prove
This is where buyers abroad get caught. A registered agent is a real, licensed professional. That still tells you nothing about the land.
It does not prove the seller owns the plot. It does not prove the title is genuine or that the parcel on the ground matches the one on the title. And a licence does not mean the agent should be holding your purchase money.
Section 22 of the Act lets the Cabinet Secretary make rules on agents keeping client money in separate bank accounts. Even so, there is no reason for a buyer to send a deposit to an agent at all. The agent earns a commission for bringing buyer and seller together. The money should go to your advocate's client account, or to the registered owner's bank account once your advocate has checked the title and the seller's identity.
If an agent asks for the deposit on their personal M-Pesa number or a personal bank account, treat it as a stop sign, licence or no licence.
Warning signs that come up again and again
- The agent is very responsive but will not put their full name or registration number in writing.
- They offer to "do the search for you" and send a screenshot rather than letting your advocate run it.
- The "owner" is always travelling, unwell or unable to join a video call.
- There is pressure to pay a booking fee today because "another buyer from the UK is ready".
- The firm name on the WhatsApp profile does not match anything in the gazette list.
None of these proves fraud on its own. Two or three together should make you slow down.
If you are abroad, who should do what
Most diaspora purchases run through someone at home: a sibling, a cousin, a friend from school. They are doing you a favour, often while holding down their own job, and they cannot be expected to know the Estate Agents Act.
Give them a short written brief. Ask them to collect the agent's details, send you a photo of the practising certificate, and introduce the agent to your advocate. Then let the advocate run the land search and draft the agreement. Your relative's job is to be your eyes on the ground, not to carry the legal risk. If anything goes wrong later, nobody in the family has to explain why a check was skipped.
Time zones help here. A deal that "must close today" in Nairobi is happening while you sleep in Dallas or Toronto. Tell the agent upfront that nothing gets paid until you have confirmed it on a call during your waking hours. A serious agent will work with that.
Questions people ask
How do I know if an estate agent is registered in Kenya? Look for their name and registration number in the latest Kenya Gazette list published by the Estate Agents Registration Board. For 2026, that is Gazette Notice No. 4432 of 27 March 2026. If they are not listed, ask for their current practising certificate and confirm it with the Board.
Is EARB registration the same as a business permit? No. A county business permit lets a business trade. EARB registration under the Estate Agents Act is the professional licence to practise as an estate agent. An agency can have one without the other.
Can a land seller act as their own agent? Yes. The Act does not apply to an owner dealing with their own property. In that case your check is on ownership: an official land search and confirmation that the seller's ID matches the registered owner.
What can I do if a registered agent cheats me? You can complain in writing to the Board, which can hold an inquiry under section 23 and suspend or remove an agent. Section 19 also requires agents to carry indemnity cover for losses caused by dishonesty. Report fraud to the police as well, and speak to an advocate about recovering the money.
Where Karibu fits
Karibu checks agent licences against the EARB register, along with title records and asking prices by area, so you can see where a deal stands before you commit. If you want a second opinion on an agent or a listing, ask bRRAIn, our property research assistant.
Before your next call with an agent, have their full name and registration number written down, and the 2026 gazette list open next to them.
Sources: Estate Agents Act, Cap. 533 (Kenya Law, version of 20 June 2025). Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVIII No. 56, 27 March 2026, Gazette Notices No. 4432 and 4433. EARB notice on the 2026 gazette publication (30 March 2026).
This article is general information, not legal advice. Speak to an advocate about your situation.