Diaspora money and new REIT listings reshape Kenyan property investment
Remittances reached about $5.04 billion in 2025 and are projected to rise again, while listed REITs open an alternative route into property.
Diaspora capital has become one of the most reliable sources of demand in Kenyan real estate. Remittance inflows grew from roughly KES 440 billion in 2024 to KES 593 billion over the first eleven months of 2025, with total 2025 inflows around $5.04 billion and projections of a further 4% rise to about $5.24 billion.
Developers have responded by marketing property as a stable long-term store of value, and diaspora buyers increasingly expect the transparency and remote-viewing tools that come with that positioning.
Listed vehicles are also maturing. Five REITs have been approved in Kenya, and the market has seen the listing of the Africa Logistics Property Income REIT alongside LAPTrust Imara I-REIT. The logistics vehicle targets modern Grade A and B warehousing across East Africa, with initial seed assets at Imara Daima and Tatu City.
On returns, housing prices rose about 7.8% over the past year with rental yields averaging roughly 5.5%, while off-plan projects have delivered higher figures for buyers willing to carry construction and delivery risk.
