NSE: REITs offer Kenyans easier access to real estate investment
By Sharon Atieno, July 21, 2026Kenyans can now invest in income-generating property without having to raise millions of shillings to buy an entire building, manage tenants or handle maintenance, thanks to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
In a statement shared on its X account on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) explained how REITs enable investors to participate in the real estate sector through a regulated and accessible investment vehicle.
How REITs work
The pooled funds are used to acquire or invest in income-generating properties, with investors receiving a share of the income generated from those assets.
“Think of a REIT as a mutual fund for real estate. Everyone contributes; it just buys the property, all properties, and you collect your slice of the rent,” Corazon Kwamboka, NSE Business Development Associate, explained in a video shared.
A REIT is a collective investment scheme regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), where investors pool their money to invest in real estate assets.
This allows investors to participate in property ownership without the need to raise millions of shillings to buy an entire property.
Instead of purchasing a building individually, investors can buy units or shares in a REIT and earn a share of the income generated from the underlying real estate assets.
Property owners can unlock value
The NSE said REITs also provide property owners and developers with an avenue to unlock the value of qualifying assets and raise capital for future developments.
“REITs provide investors with an opportunity to participate in Kenya’s real estate sector through a regulated and accessible investment vehicle, while enabling property owners and developers to unlock the value of their assets,” the NSE said.
It added that the investment vehicles enable property owners and developers to convert qualifying properties into REITs and raise capital for future projects.
The exchange said REITs could also benefit from various fiscal incentives, making them an attractive option for investors and property developers.
Growing investor interest
The NSE’s latest push to promote REITs comes amid growing investor interest in alternative investment opportunities within Kenya’s capital markets.
On June 29, 2026, the NSE listed the TRIFIC SEZ Green USD Income REIT after the product raised Ksh4 billion against a target of Ksh3.9 billion.
The REIT recorded a 103.3 per cent subscription rate, signalling strong investor demand for property-backed and sustainable investment products.
NSE Chief Executive Officer Frank Mwiti said the product was among the most innovative income REITs to enter the Kenyan market.
The latest developments highlight the growing role of REITs in opening up Kenya’s property market to more investors while providing developers with new avenues to mobilise capital.