Guides
Missing Beacons and Boundary Disputes: What to Do in Kenya
Missing beacons or a neighbour building on your land? Learn the steps to resolve boundary disputes in Kenya, starting with a professional boundary survey.
By Survlution Kenya Survey Team · · 5 min read
Beacons get removed during fencing, buried during road works, or moved on purpose. Once they are gone, it's easy for neighbours to disagree about where one plot ends and the next begins. Here is how to handle it calmly and correctly.
Signs you have a boundary problem
- You can't find one or more of your beacons
- A neighbour's fence or wall looks like it is on your side
- Your plot feels smaller than the size on your title
- A road or footpath seems to have shifted onto your land
Step 1: Don't move anything yourself
Moving or removing beacons yourself can make matters worse, and interfering with survey marks can be an offence. Keep any evidence, such as photos, old sketches and receipts, and avoid confrontation.
Step 2: Commission a boundary survey
A licensed surveyor retrieves the official survey data for your parcel and re-establishes the beacons in their correct positions. You get a report and sketch showing where the boundary actually is, plus any encroachment.
Step 3: Talk to your neighbour with facts
Many disputes end once both sides see the survey report. Invite your neighbour to be present when the beacons are re-established, so the result is transparent.
Step 4: Involve the Land Registrar if needed
Under the Land Registration Act, 2012, disputes over the boundaries of registered land generally go first to the Land Registrar, who can visit the site and make a determination. Your survey report is key evidence in that process. For complex cases, get advice from an advocate.
