Real estate in Kenya

The real estate sector in Kenya has seen a boom that began somewhere in the mid to late 2000s because the property market is responding to increased demand.

In Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya, there is one of the largest expatriate communities in the continent due to the significant number of multinationals who have chosen Nairobi as either their African hub or East and Central African hub.[1] The rebirth of property development in Nairobi has attracted global attention. In its 2012 Wealth Report, real estate management company, Knight Frank, ranked Nairobi as the fastest-growing real estate market in the world, outpacing cities like Miami and Monaco.[2] Real estate prices in Nairobi rose 25 percent between January and December 2011. Nairobi was also voted as one of the top 10 cities to watch by global real estate firm, Jones Lang LaSalle, out of 150 cities globally.[2][3]

Kenyan cities

In 2012, Nairobi and Mombasa were the only cities in the "southern hemisphere" to have reported double digit property price increases, out of 71 cities surveyed in the Prime International Residential Index.[4] The table shows property price growth in the top cities in the survey.

Kenya
City Country Percentage increase between 2011 and 2012 (%)
Nairobi  Kenya 25
Mombasa  Kenya 20
Miami  USA 19.1
Bali  Indonesia 15
Jakarta  Indonesia 14.3
London  United Kingdom 12.1
Vancouver  Canada 10.4
Moscow  Russia 9.8
Toronto  Canada 8.5
Beijing  China 8.1

Source: BusinessDaily

The report noted that inflows from Kenyans in the diaspora are particularly significant in driving the prices and that the cost per square metre of land in Nairobi and Mombasa is still lower than other cities such as Monaco.

Markets

Office

The office market in Kenya has moved from a position of oversupply and the market is finally stabilising, as Nairobi reinforces its position as the regional commercial hub of Sub-Saharan Africa.[5]

Retail

Kenya continues to experience some of the most decentralised growth of the retail market as marketers move outside Nairobi and go to other urban centres in Kenya such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru.

Industrial

Most industrial companies in Kenya tend to avoid renting or leasing space. However, over the recent years there has been significant development especially along Mombasa Rd. Rent and take up is low so the sector might need a couple more years to mature.

Residential

The residential market has actually been one of the key drivers of the property market. There has been a significant number of development projects coming up both within the Greater Nairobi Area and other urban areas such as Mombasa, Naivasha and Kisumu.

Prime Global Cities Index

Q1 2013

Kenya
Africa
No. City Country World region 12-month (Mar 2012–13) % change 6-month (Sep 2012 – Mar 13) % change 3-month (Dec 2012 – Mar 13) % change Data if not Q1
1 Jakarta Indonesia Asia Pacific 38.1 14.8 6.9 Q4
2 Bangkok Thailand Asia Pacific 26.1 7.1 5
3 Miami United States North America 21.1 5.8 −0.6
4 Dubai UAE Middle East 18.310.9 5.4
5 Shanghai China Asia Pacific 17.4 13.1 2.5
6 St Petersburg Russia Europe 13.1 11.9 1.8
7 Los Angeles USA North America 12.5 8.6 9.4 Q4
8 Monaco Monaco Europe 12.2 12.210
9 Hong Kong China
Hong Kong 		Asia Pacific 8.82.6 1.2
10 Nairobi Kenya Africa 8.43.1 1.6
11 San Francisco USA North America 8.4 2.3 −0.1 Q4
12 London United Kingdom Europe 8.1 3.62.2
13Beijing China Asia Pacific 6.34.9 2.7
14Tel Aviv Israel Middle East 3.7 −4.1 −5.4 Q4
15Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Asia Pacific 2.8 3.2 2.3
16Cape Town South Africa Africa 1.7 1.7 1.2
17 Mumbai India Asia Pacific 1 0.7 0.5
18 Sydney Australia Asia Pacific 0 0.80.8 Q4
19 Moscow Russia Europe −1.8 1.1 1.6
20 Zurich Switzerland Europe −2.5 −2.5 0

[6]

Performance of luxury homes by world region

Q1 2013 Knight Frank Residential Research
Region Performance of luxury homes
Middle East
11
N. America
8.3
Asia Pacific
7.8
Africa
4.3
Europe
-2.5

Source: KnightFrank

Greater Nairobi and Nairobi Metro

Nairobi Metro within Kenya

Greater Nairobi consists of 4 out of 47 counties in Kenya but the area generates about 60% of the nation's wealth.[7][8] The counties are:

Area County Area (km²) Population
Census 2009 		Cities/towns/municipalities in the counties
Core Nairobi Nairobi County 694.93,138,369 Nairobi
Northern Metro Kiambu County 2,449.21,623,282 Kiambu, Thika, Limuru, Ruiru, Karuri, Kikuyu
Southern Metro Kajiado County 21,292.7687,312 Kajiado, Olkejuado, Bissil, Ngong, Kitengela, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai
Eastern Metro Machakos County 5,952.91,098,584 Kangundo-Tala, Machakos, Athi River
Totals Nairobi Metro 30,389.76,547,547

Nairobi (core)

Population of Core Nairobi between 1906 and 2009

Upper Hill

Upper Hill has become an alternative for major companies seeking land cheaper than that which is in the Central Business District of Nairobi. It is one of the two main bases multinational firms consider when setting up in Kenya or Africa. Some of the firms include but are not limited to: Cisco Systems, Citibank, Coca Cola, Huawei and IMF.

Average annual office rents for Grade A offices in Nairobi

Upper Hill
Westlands
Nairobi CBD

Source: KnightFrank

Westlands

Westlands along with Upper Hill has become one of the two main bases for multinational firms that want to set up in Kenya or Africa. Some of the firms include but are not limited to: General Electric, Google Africa headquarters, Intel Corporation, LG and Standard Chartered Plc.

Woodvale Grove, Westlands

Gigiri

Gigiri is home to Kenya's large expatriate community. It is one of the largest expat communities in Africa. It houses the United Nations Environmental Programme. Nairobi is the only African city to host a major UN body. It also has the Village Market, which targets the expat community in Nairobi and hosts the International Civil Aviation Organization Base for Eastern and Southern Africa. Gigiri is considered one of Kenya's most posh suburbs along with Runda and Muthaiga which are really close to the place.[9]

It is comparable to the mostly-expat-inhabited neighbourhood of Itaewon in South Korea. However, it is much smaller.

Runda, Muthaiga, Lavington, Karen

These areas are Kenya's most expensive neighbourhoods; however, it is very likely that the neighbourhoods like Runda will lose its tag due to the recent demolitions[10] and others are seeing more and more townhouses rather than mansions and villas.[11]

Machakos (East Metro)

Nairobi Metro Map
Nairobi County (red)
Kajiado County (green)
Machakos County (yellow)
Kiambu County (purple)

Towns in Machakos County on the outskirts of Nairobi from the 2000s been inhabited by people who work in Nairobi. Athi River is one town that has seen people move there. This shows that people have started to prefer living outside the core of the city. Under the Nairobi 2030 Masterplan, Machakos County is to become a dormitory town for Core Nairobi.[12][13]

Konza Techno City

Konza Technology City dubbed "Africa’s Silicon Valley" will be the single largest property development ever done in Kenya. It is going to host the technology city as part of many programmes that aim to steer Kenya into middle income status. It will cost a whooping US$14.5 billion after commencing in January 2013 and is to be completed by 2030.[14]

Kiambu (North Metro)

With the recent completion of the expansion of a road connecting Core Nairobi to Kiambu County, there has been a lot of property development happening with the most significant being:

Tatu City

Tatu City is a property development by Moscow-based Renaissance Partners. The development will cost US$2.5 billion; groundbreaking commenced in early 2013.[15]

Kajiado (South Metro)

Kajiado County is currently home to Kenya's richest people.[16] There are many residential neighbourhoods that host people who work in Nairobi examples are Ngong, Kitengela, Kiserian and Ongata Rongai. Kitengela is close to Athi River which has also started rising as a popular residential area.

Mombasa

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Prime land in Mombasa is up for grabs as a property boom like the one witnessed in the 1970s continues to push up home prices in the coastal town.[17]

Nyali

Nyali houses some of the most expensive homes in Kenya.

Shanzu

Shanzu is also another affluent neighbourhood right past Whitesands beach hotel at Bamburi beach. The area houses high-profile housing developments.

English Point Marina

English Point Marina will be East and Central Africa's first floating pontoon marina. It will offer apartment living in the comfort, luxury and security of a hotel and will be managed by Pinewood Village Beach Resort. Units sold cost between KES. 36 and 150 million (US$410,000 – US$1.8 million).[18] Despite the high prices, the units are almost sold out.

The total cost of the project is about KES. 4.8 billion (US$60 million).[19]

As of March 2013 the project was 30% complete.[20] A complete virtual tour of the property has been created to give online users a feel of what to expect from the development.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Why Kenya's real estate sector is robust". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Nairobi's Changing Skyline: Commercial Real Estate On The Rise". http://abacus.co.ke/. Abacus. Retrieved 11 September 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  3. ↑ "Nairobi's Changing Skyline: Commercial Real Estate On The Rise". http://abacus.co.ke/. External link in |website= (help)
  4. ↑ "Nairobi tops global cities in property prices rally". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ↑ http://resources.knightfrank.com/GetResearchResource.ashx?versionid=1668&type=1
  6. ↑ Source: Knight Frank Residential Research, Miller Samuel/Douglas Elliman, Ken Corporation Hong Kong & Kuala Lumpur
  7. ↑ http://196.200.27.243:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/111/Nairobi.pdf?sequence=3
  8. ↑ http://www.nairobimetro.go.ke/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=43&Itemid=90.
  9. ↑ "HassConsult Real Estate". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  10. ↑ Jeckonia Otieno. "Anxiety as houses in Runda face demolition". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. ↑ http://allafrica.com/stories/201111250015.html
  12. ↑ http://www.nairobimetro.go.ke/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=25&Itemid=57
  13. ↑ "Kenya kickstarts multi-billion-dollar Konza Tech City". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  14. ↑ http://techloy.com/2013/01/24/kenyas-president-launches-15-billion-konza-silicon-city-project/
  15. ↑ "A Wave of 'New Cities' Are Poised to Transform Africa - For the Worse?". Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "Kajiado richest county, Turkana poorest". Daily Nation. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Investors cash in on Mombasa land rush as property prices soar". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  18. ↑ "Kenya's First Marina Hopes to Attract Boats & Yachts". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  19. ↑ http://www.megaprojects.co.ke/projects/20/details/#.UgDtcWQY1jA
  20. ↑ English Point Marina 30% complete. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ "Marina EnglishPoint - 360 tours". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
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