Trends in the housing market, reveal that middle-class Kenyans are shifting their preferences with most choosing to settle in suburbs further away from the city.
Kenyan property markets are experiencing a huge shift from previous trends where middle-class citizens preferred to live in areas like Kileleshwa and Lavington.
Hass Consult, a popular real estate company in Nairobi, in their Quarter One Property Index for 2023 indicated that Satellite towns recorded growth with more people preferring to live in these areas.
“Nearly all towns posted positive growth on apartment rental pricing highlighting the increasing occupancy rate of apartments with target renters having a monthly budget between Sh25,500 and Sh50,000”, Hass Consulted noted.
Below is a list of some of the preferred neighbourhoods by Kenyans;
1. Konza Technopolis
In Konza, according to property listings on various real estate company websites, an eighth of an acre costs between Ksh 600,000- Ksh 900,000.
Kenyans are shifting to this area with the anticipation that they will also tap into the development of the technology city proposed by the government in Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The Konza Technopolis will be a world-class city, powered by a thriving Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) sector.
2. Machakos County
Areas around Machakos Town, such as Syokimau, Athi River, Joska Kangundo and Mlolongo have gained traction in the past 5 years.
According to Buy Rent Kenya, a property sale and rental website in Kenya, an eighth acre parcel of residential land will cost Ksh 1 Million.
Syokimau has also seen tremendous growth with the development of gated communities and the sale of residential houses with Buy Rent Kenya quoting the price of a house to be between Ksh 12M- 15 Million.
3. Ruiru
Ruiru’s popular residential suburbs for most middle-class Kenyans are Membley, Mugutha, Kimbo Matangi and Kamakis along the Eastern Bypass.
There have been significant developments with Kenyans putting up multi-million mansions in various architectural designs in the region.
Land within these areas typically ranges between Ksh 2.5- 3.5 million for an eighth of an acre in Mugutha and upto Ksh 5 Million in Membley for the same size of land.
4. Kitengela
Kitengela has been on the property hot list for a hot minute with Kenyans opting to live there despite the distance to the city.
Property in Kitengela will typically cost between Ksh 600,000 to Ksh 1.5 Million depending on factors like the distance from the main road.
Kitengela continues to rise in the property market despite being on the list of residential trends for a while.
5. Naivasha
The past two years have seen a rise in the interest witnessed in Naivasha, Nakuru County particularly plots with lake views.
Within the town, eighth plots begin at Ksh 500,000 with prices rising to Ksh 2 Million for the same size plots
Kenyans have crossed over to purchasing lands in the town owing to its scenic views and popularity for domestic tourism.
