If you had invested KSh 1 million in land in Nairobi’s satellite towns at the end of 2007, it would today be worth Ksh13.23 million, making land the most rewarding asset over the last 18 years, according to the latest Hass Land Index Q3 2025 report.
- •By contrast, the same investment would have grown to KSh 7.4 million in Nairobi’s traditional suburbs, KSh 4.75 million in bonds and KSh 1.7 million in savings accounts.
- •Land in Nairobi’s 14 satellite towns, including Kitengela, Ruaka, Ruiru, and Juja has appreciated by 13.23 times since 2007, outpacing Nairobi’s 18 suburbs, where prices rose 7.4 times.
- •The average price per acre in satellite towns now stands at KSh 32.3 million, compared with KSh 223.9 million in city suburbs.
HassConsult attributes the slower pace in 2025 to “tightening finances” that have curtailed self-building among middle-income buyers. Yet, the long-term performance shows how suburban expansion has redefined land as a wealth-building vehicle outside the capital’s core.
“The lesson is clear, land remains the ultimate inflation hedge in Kenya’s economy. The findings underline land’s resilience as Kenya’s best-performing long-term investment, even through cycles of economic volatility, elections, and global downturns,” noted the report.
Within Nairobi, development hotspots such as Spring Valley, Karen, and Langata continue to record double-digit annual price gains as developers convert large plots into mixed-use projects. Spring Valley led with 13.3% annual growth, while Muthaiga and Ridgeways saw minor dips.
The data show that despite the 2025 slowdown, investor interest remains strong, particularly where infrastructure expansion and zoning reforms are unlocking new value.
The report compares land with other asset classes over the same 18-year period. Even bonds and property have failed to match the compounding effect of land appreciation.
