Affluent Kenyans ditch traditional property investments for tech, logistics and renewable energy, report shows
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Why South Africa is Kenya’s top overseas destination for commercial property investment
Alfred Onyango
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Knight Frank says high-net-worth individuals are increasingly investing in data centres, farmland, rental housing and logistics as they seek stronger returns, greater liquidity and long-term growth.
Kenya’s affluent investors are increasingly shifting away from traditional residential property as they diversify their wealth into alternative investments that offer stronger returns, greater liquidity and long-term resilience.
The latest Wealth & Investment Trends report by real estate consultancy Knight Frank shows that high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are increasingly investing in assets linked to technology, infrastructure and evolving consumer trends.
Among the sectors attracting the most interest are data centres, professionally managed rental housing, hospitality, farmland, and logistics and industrial real estate.
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Commenting on the trend, Knight Frank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Mark Dunford said the changing investment patterns reflect a more sophisticated approach to wealth creation.
“The modern investor is looking beyond conventional asset classes. There is growing interest in investments that combine income, resilience and long term growth. This reflects a more sophisticated approach to wealth creation,” Dunford said.
The report identifies data centres and the Residential Private Rented Sector (PRS) as the leading investment opportunities for 2026, with each attracting 24 per cent of investor interest.
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Knight Frank attributes the growing demand for data centres to rising internet penetration, increased adoption of cloud computing, the expansion of artificial intelligence and the growing need for secure data storage infrastructure. Government efforts to promote digital transformation and data localisation have further strengthened the sector’s investment appeal.
Professionally managed rental housing is also drawing strong interest from wealthy investors, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth and rising demand for housing. These factors are creating opportunities for stable rental income and long-term capital appreciation.
The report adds that the expansion of Kenya’s diaspora and the growth of short-term accommodation platforms are further boosting demand for rental housing.
Farmland has also emerged as a preferred investment, with 29 per cent of respondents identifying it as an attractive asset class.
According to the report, investors increasingly view agricultural land as a hedge against inflation, a store of wealth and a long-term asset expected to appreciate as infrastructure development and urban expansion push up land values in satellite towns and emerging growth corridors.
The hospitality sector continues to attract investor interest, with 24 per cent of respondents identifying hotels and leisure as preferred investment opportunities.
Knight Frank attributes this confidence to Kenya’s tourism recovery, with international visitor arrivals rising to about 2.55 million in 2025 from 2.4 million the previous year.
Logistics and industrial real estate attracted 18 per cent of investor interest, supported by the rapid expansion of e-commerce, regional trade, manufacturing and supply chain modernisation.
The consultancy says logistics parks, warehouses and distribution centres continue to record higher occupancy rates and more stable rental yields than some traditional commercial property segments.
Looking ahead, Knight Frank says affluent investors are increasingly balancing traditional wealth preservation assets with exposure to high-growth sectors driven by technology, demographics and infrastructure, signalling a continued evolution of Kenya’s investment landscape.
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