How to become a licensed Land Surveyor in Kenya

As of October 2019, there were 126 licensed Land Surveyors in Kenya. Going by this number one might think that it’s a tall order to become a licensed Surveyor. Other professionals in the built environment such as Quantity Surveyors and Architects are boasting of a thousand plus licensed practitioners. Advocates are boasting of ten thousand plus members.

What could explain the big disparity? Are there fewer people taking up survey training vis a vis other disciplines? The answer to this question is Yes and No. Yes because the numbers are indeed fewer than Architects, and no because Quantity Surveyors graduating from our institutions match the number of Land Surveyors. If there is a disparity, the margin is small.

My assessment is that the surveying discipline has morphed into what is referred to as Geomatics or Geospatial Engineering. Geomatics is now a wide career and graduates can specialize in areas other than traditional surveying such as Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), GeoIT and Photogrammetry. So you find graduates specializing in any of these areas for their life’s work.

For the avoidance of doubt, being a licensed Surveyor is mostly useful in carrying out boundary work. Any survey work that involves creating new boundaries between parcels i.e. Subdivision and Amalgamation must pass through a Licensed Surveyor. This means that it can be done by an approved assistant but it must be checked and bear the signatory of a licensed Surveyor. So in short, boundary surveys in Kenya can only be carried out by licensed Surveyors or approved assistants working under their supervision.

Other types of surveys such as Engineering Surveys, Control Surveys, staking out construction plans, etc do not require a license. One only needs to have acquired the training from an approved institution and be a member of the umbrella organization for Surveyors and Realtors i.e. The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK).

The Land Surveyor’s Board (LSB) is the statutory body responsible for regulating and advancing the practice of land surveying in Kenya. The Director of Surveys is the Chairman of the Board which includes membership of practitioners from both government and private practice.

In the past, the LSB was accused of portraying cartel-like tendencies by making it hard for practitioners to acquire the coveted license. This created a situation where all the boundary work was shared among a few surveyors hence depriving others of economic benefit and right to profit. This was not only unfair but it caused two unforeseen outcomes; the emergence and proliferation of quacks, especially in the rural areas, and a deplorable lack of interest among graduate surveyors seeking the qualification.

However, this situation has changed and the LSB is actively seeking to license practitioners who have qualified. This is due to a change in mindset brought forth by the new appointments to the board. They are, however, going through many challenges including igniting interest among already fed up graduates who were previously frustrated in their quest, and an inability to reign in over quacks who are offering sub-standard and unprofessional services to Kenyans all over the Country.

So, to be a licensed surveyor in Kenya one first needs to be a full member of the ISK. Some of the qualifications for being a licensed surveyor are already achieved once one becomes a full member of ISK, but for the sake of brevity the following are the irreducible minimums for one to be admitted to the roll of licensed Land Surveyors;

1. Perform a farm Survey of at least ten (10) hectares with a section having a curvilinear boundary of not less than one hundred (100) meters in length. NB the curvilinear section may be part of a different survey;
2. Perform a Cadastral Survey of at least thirty (30) plots either in one scheme or several schemes. (At least 1 scheme to contain 7 plots);
3. Perform a Topographical Survey of a minimum of five (5) hectares of a medium density area and done in accordance with the Board’s guidelines on topographical surveys;
4. Perform a Control Survey with at least four (4) new control points. This may be achieved within the farm survey mentioned in (1) above;
5. Duly completed declaration forms, A & B of the third schedule of the Survey Act;
6. A pass in the Board’s Land Law Examination;
7. Full membership of Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, with a certificate of participation and up to date payment;
8. A duly completed application form of the Land Surveyors Board;
9. Application letter to the Board;
10. Application fees of Kshs. 10,000.

Once the applicant has met the above minimums, the board sits to approve or reject the candidates and announces the outcomes on the Land Surveyor’s Board website.

One thing of interest to note, from above, is that being a licensed Land Surveyor in Kenya has little to do with writing and sitting examinations and more to do with acquiring experience in certain aspects of the trade. It's more of a tradesman ship profession than a white-collar.

The average age of the licensed Land Surveyors in Kenya is above 50 years old. More needs to be done to roll in more practitioners so that there is continuity in the profession. Otherwise, surveyors will be a rare species in the next three decades.

List Of Licensed Land Surveyors in Kenya

According to the body, there are 133 licensed active land surveyors in Kenya at the moment as listed below.

	NAMES	REG NO.
1	John Sidney Vaughan	95
2	Philippe A. Zimmerlin	106
3	James Kamwere	109
4	Walter Juma Absaloms	114
5	James Mwarari Gatome	115
6	Paul Singh Matharu	116
7	Suleiman A Harunani	117
8	Francis Munuve Kasyi	118
9	Peter Gichoho Ngugi	120
10	Alexandrino Kiamati Njuki	122
11	John Dominic Obel	123
12	David Nyika	125
13	Obadiah R.M. Wainaina	127
14	Dominic Ngare	128
15	Henry Fonte K Wambua	130
16	Jasper Ntwiga Mwenda	133
17	George Kimathi Mugenyu	134
18	Joseph R.R. Aganyo	135
19	David Kanyuga Macoco	137
20	Joel Kipkemboi Yego	138
21	David Gachanja Kagu	139
22	Gibson Wahome Werugia	140
23	Edward Marenye J. Kiguru	141
24	Gordon P. Okumu Wayumba	143
25	Benson Meshack Okumu	146
26	Bibiana Achieng Rabuku Omalla	147
27	Lenny Maxwell Kivuti	148
28	Joseph Kagiri Mathenge	149
29	Hussein Omar Farah	151
30	Haggai Nyapola	152
31	Jacob Ogwari Oyato	155
32	Kombo Mwero	156
33	James Oguna Sogoh	157
34	Bowers Nderma Owino	158
35	Livingstone Kamande Gitau	159
36	Kennedy Kubasu	160
37	Ibrahim Njiru Mwathane	161
38	Joseph Guyo Halake	162
39	Thomas Kiprop Kirui	163
40	John Kennedy Ndede	164
41	Howard MakotsiLwoyelo	167
42	Wilson Ndirangu Kamau	168
43	Elzaphan M Ohanda	169
44	Polly Wanjiku Gitimu	170
45	Silas Kinoti Muriithi	171
46	Eliud Moki	172
47	Silas Mwiti Muketha	173
48	Patrick Opiyo Adero	174
49	Henry Musemate Murwa	175
50	Peter Okeyo Oraro	177
51	Julius Orwa K’Obado	178
52	Alfred Mwangi Gathu	180
53	Paul Karanja Thagishu	181
54	Batholomew Chakuri Mwanyungu	182
55	John Opiko Aloo	183
56	Stephen Gathuita Mwangi	184
57	Charles Ributhi Gathogo	185
58	Joel Odhiambo Akumu	186
59	John Kagiri Karuga	187
60	Joseph Gachoki Gitari	188
61	Galcano Canny Mulaku	189
62	Moses Karoki Gachari	191
63	Fredrick Ouma Oduor	192
64	Abdulkadir Adan Khalif	193
65	Peter Kuria Wanyoike	194
66	Ephantus Murage Mundia	195
67	Edith Kariko Mwai	196
68	Francis W. Odhiambo Aduol	197
69	Cecilia Wangari Koigu	198
70	Simon Gatuni Njukia	199
71	Stephen Odongo Ambani	200
72	Gilbert Oketch Ayoo	201
73	Zachary Thuku Kanunu	203
74	Wilfred Muchae Kabue	204
75	John Karanja Kihagi	205
76	Reuben Mwenda Murugu	206
77	Julius Kiplagat Rotich	207
78	John Mwangi Maina	208
79	Wallace Ngugi Mbugua	209
80	Faith Njoki Karanja	210
81	Sammy Mulei Musyoka	211
82	Josphat Kazungu Ziro Mwatela	212
83	Cyrus Muiruri Muchoki	213
84	Nancy Waithira Mwangi	214
85	Charles Muya Kamamia	215
86	David Ndegwa Kuria	216
87	Murimi Benjamin Kumunga	217
88	Damiano Milimu Likalamu	218
89	Jonathan Nyoka Chivatsi	219
90	Richard Nyairo Amati	220
91	Salesio Njagi Nthirimano	222
92	Cesare Ngigii Mbaria	223
93	David Nyangau Siriba	224
94	Charles Ndegwa Mundia	225
95	Emily Wawira Njeru	226
96	Sospeter Ohanya	227
97	Boniface Olwochi Wanyama	228
98	Washington Abuto	229
99	Ephraim Maina Rwingo	230
100	Okoth Charles Ameso Angira	231
101	George Arwa	232
102	Patrick Kyaka Kimeu	233
103	Kenneth Kavai Sabatia	234
104	Mungai wa Njenga Kabitu	235
105	Samuel Njatha Njihia	236
106	Abdulkadir Ibrahim Jatani	237
107	Festus Mbaabu Rimbere	238
108	Joseph Muriithi Mugendi	239
109	Daniel Maina Mukiri	240
110	Savio Ochieng Omalla	241
111	Steve Rogers Kobado	242
112	Eric Mwangi Nduhiu	243
113	Charles Misicko Lwanga	244
114	Mary N. Kamunyu	245
115	Danson Irungu Mbaru	246
116	Christopher Kinyua Tiras	247
117	Baptista W. Kihingo	248
118	Maritim Weldon	249
119	David Kuira Gichuki	250
120	Paul Njoroge Ndungu	251
121	Evans Ngeywo Maghas	252
122	Eric A. Nyadimo	253
123	John W. Gitau	254
124	Rashid Ali Abdullahi	255
125	Thomas M. Kavivya	256
126	Nicholas Ongwae Obura	257
127	Eliud Ngare Munene	258
128	Regina Njoki Njue	259
129	Zaverio Kinyua Gitonga HSC.	260
130	Milcah Ngina Muendo	261
131	Javans Otieno Rakwar	262
132	Lapezoh Ortegah A.	263
133	Stanley Omucheni Matende	264

Land Surveyors Board Contacts

Location: Ardhi House 10th Floor, Wing ‘A’ 1st Ngong Avenue, Nairobi

Phone: +254 020-2718050