Government Plans New Digital System for Land Approvals and Building Permits

Kenya, April 14, 2026 - The Ministry of ICT has announced plans to introduce a unified digital system to coordinate key processes across the land and construction industries. According to ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, the system will serve as a central hub for land approvals, building permits, inspections, and compliance monitoring.

Kabogo said the platform is expected to ensure applications are processed within defined timelines, with clear approvals or rejections issued promptly. The proposal was put forward by senior officials from the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) during a meeting with the CS and other government officials on Monday.

“If successfully implemented, the initiative is expected to position Kenya as a regional leader in digital governance while significantly enhancing the ease of doing business in the construction and real estate sectors,” Kabogo said.

The proposal comes at a time when urbanisation is accelerating, with more than half of Kenya’s population projected to live in urban areas in the coming years. Kabogo said the ministry will engage other relevant government agencies to develop a framework that will guide implementation of the system.

He added that the project is expected to support the development of functional cities, improve quality of life, and unlock economic growth through technology-driven solutions. The initiative is part of the government’s broader push to digitise public services under President William Ruto’s digital transformation agenda.