The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning in Kenya has been recognized with six awards for its effective use of digital technology to improve access to land services. These awards were presented at the 2026 Digital Transformation Public Sector (DTPS) Forum and Awards, which took place in Mombasa. The department's innovative use of digital platforms has significantly enhanced the efficiency and transparency of land-related services.
The Lands Department was named State Department of the Year at the awards ceremony. This prestigious award was largely attributed to the National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM), which automates the assessment and payment of stamp duty for property transactions. The NSDM not only won the State Department of the Year award but was also named first runner-up in the Best Digital Innovation, Financial and E-Commerce Services category.
Another notable digital platform that contributed to the department's success is ArdhiPay. This platform allows customers to make electronic payments for land-related services, and it won the Best Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Award. The National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) was recognized with the Best Collaborative Government Digital Initiative Award and was named first runner-up in the Best Digital Innovation, Natural Resource Management category.
The Lands Department's Ardhisasa platform, which provides online access to a range of land-related services, received the Digital Communications Excellence Award. NLIMS, on the other hand, supports the digitization and management of land records. These digital platforms are part of the government's efforts to shift land administration from manual processes towards integrated and cashless service delivery.
The awards were presented under the theme “Advancing Digital Government, Enhancing Service Delivery.” This event brought together government agencies, technology partners, and development organizations involved in Kenya's digital transformation. Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo congratulated the institutions and individuals recognized for their contribution to digital innovation and service delivery.
The recognition of the Lands Department's digital initiatives comes as the government continues to expand the use of digital platforms in public services. The department aims to make land transactions more accessible and efficient for citizens. The use of digital technology is expected to enhance transparency, reduce processing times, and improve overall service delivery in the land sector.
The Lands Department's achievement in winning six digital transformation awards demonstrates its commitment to leveraging technology to improve land services. The department's efforts to enhance service delivery and accessibility are in line with the government's broader agenda to promote digitalization and efficiency in public services.
Key points
- The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning received six awards for its digital transformation initiatives.
- The National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM) and ArdhiPay were among the digital platforms recognized for their innovative use.
- The awards were presented at the 2026 Digital Transformation Public Sector (DTPS) Forum and Awards in Mombasa.
