Diaspora: build at home without being scammed
How to buy land and build in Kenya from abroad, and keep control of your money.
Stories of money sent home for a house that was never built are common. Most of it is avoidable.
Before you buy land
- Get the title number and run an official search on eCitizen/Ardhisasa (around KES 500, 1–3 days; not all land is digitised yet).
- Meet the seller in person, or have someone independent do it, and match their ID to the search.
- Check for cautions, charges or court cases on the search.
- Walk the plot. Find the beacons. Ask the neighbours who owns it.
- Use your own advocate, not the seller's.
While you build
- Pay in stages, against work you've seen: foundation, walls, roof.
- Ask for photos and video with the date, and the receipts for materials.
- Get independent visits. Family and contractors are not independent.
Where we come in
Vince visits, checks the owner and the documents, films everything, and we send a written report. For builds, he visits twice a month and compare progress to your plan.