How to become a licensed Land Surveyor in Kenya

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


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