Douglas Mwiti 
Mark Dunford, CEO, Knight Frank Kenya
Kenya continues to be the preferred destination for local wealth creation and property investment among the country’s high net worth individuals,despite increasing access to international investment opportunities, according to Knight Frank Kenya’s Wealth & Investment Trends Report 2026.
The report found that most affluent investors continue to maintain the majority of their residential property holdings within Kenya, while interest in second citizenships and alternative residency programmes remains limited.
The findings point to a continued preference for investing in familiar markets where investors have greater oversight of their assets and stronger operational networks.
Boniface Abudho,Research Analyst,Knight Frank Africa, said, “Investors are making disciplined allocation decisions based on market familiarity, long term asset performance, and the ability to actively manage their investments.
While international diversification remains important domestic investments continue to play a central role in portfolio construction.”
The report attributes this continued domestic focus to several practical considerations. Investors generally have greater visibility over local assets, established professional networks, and a better understanding of market dynamics.
Kenya also continues to offer opportunities across residential, commercial, industrial and alternative real estate sectors, allowing investors to diversify while remaining within a familiar operating environment.
Mark Dunford, CEO, Knight Frank Kenya added,“The report also notes that investment decisions are increasingly driven by wealth preservation,resilience and sustainable returns rather than speculation.What we are seeing is a balanced investment approach.
Investors are selectively diversifying internationally where it complements their portfolios, while continuing to allocate significant capital to opportunities within Kenya across multiple asset classes.”
Boniface Abudho concluded, “The findings reinforce that investment decisions are increasingly being driven by portfolio resilience,liquidity, accessibility and long term return expectations.
Domestic investments continue to satisfy many of these objectives for Kenyan high net worth individuals.”
Knight Frank notes that while international diversification remains part of wealth management strategies, the report points to a measured investment approach in which domestic assets continue to provide an important foundation for long term wealth preservation and growth.
The findings reflect a market where investment decisions are increasingly shaped by risk management,portfolio diversification and strategic asset allocation rather than geographic expansion alone
