Investing in Real Estate Through REITs in Kenya 🧵

For decades, real estate in Kenya has been synonymous with direct ownership that is buying land, constructing buildings, or acquiring rental property. This route is tangible, familiar, and culturally embedded as a wealth-building strategy. @trificsez

But in the last few years, REITs have entered the conversation aggressively. But despite their promise, REITs in Kenya have remained under-penetrated. Low liquidity, limited investor awareness, and a historically narrow product range have meant that real estate exposure in capital markets has not yet achieved mainstream adoption…

Let’s start from the basics… What is a REIT?? @cheruiyotkb @Davinedavid1 @mmnjug A REIT is essentially a regulated investment structure that pools capital from multiple investors to acquire, manage, and operate income-generating real estate. Instead of owning a building directly, investors own units in a trust that holds property assets.

NCBA's 2026–2030 STRATEGY: BEYOND THE MOMENTUM🧵 🧵

Five years on from a merger, a bank that had everything to prove now has a very different problem; living up to its own momentum.

In 2020, NCBA Group was a new thing. A merger between NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa, two institutions with long histories and distinct identities, stitched together into something that had to quickly figure out what it was and where it was going.

The 2020–2025 strategy was, by any honest reading, about proving the merger was worth it. Building the brand. Scaling retail. Deepening digital. Becoming something more than a sum of parts..... Five years later, the results are in.

Total assets now stand at KES 716 billion, with total income at KES 73 billion, up at a 10% CAGR from 2020. Share price rose 3x from KES 27 to KES 89.8. Return on equity improved from 5% to 19.7%. NPS, and the customer loyalty score up 2.7 times. Over 65 million customers across five countries.

The merger was worth it. Now comes the harder question. What do you do when you've delivered?

I-REITS: THE MISSING LAYER IN YOUR PORTFOLIO: PART 1

There is a certain kind of investor frustration that gets you when you know real estate is a good asset, but you just don't have KSh 80 million sitting around to buy a commercial building in Gigiri. @trificsez

This is exactly the gap that an Income Real Estate Investment Trust, an I-REIT, was designed to fill.

But what Is a REIT? A Real Estate Investment Trust is a regulated investment vehicle that pools money from many investors to collectively own and operate income-generating properties. Think of it like a unit trust, but instead of holding stocks or bonds, it holds real assets; office buildings, shopping malls, student accommodation, industrial parks.

7 PERSONAL FINANCE TIPS FOR AGES 26–30....🧵 🧵

Your late 20s are a very confusing season financially. One minute you’re celebrating a salary raise, the next minute you’re contributing to a chama, paying rent, sending fare home, attending ruracios every weekend, funding soft life......Your friends are getting married, others are relocating abroad, some are building businesses quietly, while others are just trying to survive till payday. For many guys, there’s pressure to make it. For many ladies, there’s pressure to have it figured out. Meanwhile, almost everyone is silently wondering if they are truly doing enough with their money.

Ages 26–30 can either become the foundation of your future wealth… or the years you normalize financial chaos. But the good thing is that small smart decisions during this season compound heavily later in life....... 1. Build Something

Your salary alone may not save you. Build something outside your monthly paycheck. It could be a small business, a personal brand, a side hustle, an investment portfolio, a SACCO contribution, or even a skill-based service.

At this age, you still have the energy, flexibility, and room to experiment. Don’t just consume life, create something that can grow without depending entirely on your physical presence.

The Evolution of Real Estate Investing: Access, Structure, and Currency 🧵

Real estate has long been regarded as one of the most reliable tools for building wealth. Across generations, it has delivered on three key fundamentals: capital appreciation over time, the ability to generate consistent income, and a sense of stability that few other asset classes can match. For many investors, it remains the foundation of long-term wealth planning.

But while the appeal of real estate has never really changed, the way investors access it is beginning to shift. @trificsez In practice, traditional real estate investing comes with barriers that are difficult to ignore. The capital required to enter the market is often high, making it inaccessible to many. The assets themselves are illiquid, meaning they cannot be easily converted to cash when needed. There is also the operational burden of managing property, tenants, and maintenance. On top of this, direct ownership often concentrates risk in one location or one asset.

#BookReview
5 MANTRAS OF RETIREMENT by Dr. Edward Odundo

After 16 years as CEO of Kenya’s Retirement Benefits Authority, Dr. Edward Odundo finally retired in June of 2017, facing the very system he had long helped shape. For 4 decades, he had been busy right at the heart of Kenya’s financial markets having worked at the NSE, IRA, KRA and now RBA……but nothing ever prepared him even for the silence in his own home on the next Monday after his retirement.

The transition was just deeply personal.

His three phones, once constantly alive with calls and decisions, went quiet. His wife, who was also an early riser, was still working and his four daughters were all grown with a life of their own…… You see, retirement can be a ruthless teacher. Reality quickly hit home for Dr.Odundo even as his busy schedule changed. Through his personal experiences in retirement, he now shares 5 Mantras that have helped him thrive and maintain his quality of life….

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SME INSURANCE COVER.....🧵🧵

Peter’s electronics business, located along Luthuli Avenue, was finally picking up. Just a few weeks earlier, he had restocked with new electronics from China. Sales were good, customers were returning, and for the first time in a while, he was thinking about expanding and even hiring a few more staff members.......
#SanlamAllianzKenya #PlanSmartBuildWealth #FinancialPlanning One evening, after closing shop and getting home, his phone rang around 9 p.m.
“Niaje Peter… manze biz inachomeka.” His heart sank.

He grabbed his car keys and rushed back to town. But by the time he arrived, the flames had already done their damage. His entire stock was destroyed. The shop he had worked so hard to build was now in ruins. He stood there in disbelief, watching years of effort and his life savings reduced to ashes.....

FIVE MONEY MISTAKES HOLDING YOU BACK IN LIFE....🧵🧵

For many people, the issue with money is not lack of income. It is the pattern that follows income. Money comes in, life expands to meet it, and by the end of the month there is little to show for the effort. The cycle feels normal because it is common, but it is not harmless. Over time, it prevents any real financial progress. One of the biggest mistakes is treating budgeting as a once-a-month exercise instead of a daily financial system. People create a budget at the beginning of the month with good intentions, but without tracking or discipline, it quickly becomes a theoretical document. Spending happens based on emotion, convenience, and social pressure rather than the plan. Eventually, the budget is abandoned altogether, and money begins to move without direction......

NCBA PHASE TWO??🧵🧵
(Part 1)

If there’s a bank that has been the talk of town over the last 5 years or so, it has to be NCBA Group, whose headquarters sit pretty right at the heart of Upperhill.

Since the 2020 merger, the story has steadily evolved from integration, to digital transformation, to acquisitions in insurance, to dominance in asset finance, aggressive branch expansion, to a recent announcement about an acquisition by Nedbank.

But what is in NCBA’s playbook going forward? Research documented by the Harvard Business Review shows that 70–90% of mergers and acquisitions fail to create shareholder value or achieve their intended outcomes.

Which is why the story of NCBA Group stands out. In a landscape where most mergers struggle with integration, culture, and execution, NCBA has quietly built one of the most compelling post-merger success stories.

It’s no surprise then that NCBA was awarded the Best Mergers & Acquisitions Strategy Winner at the Abojani 2024 Economic Empowerment Awards.

5 RISKS EVERY SME FACES.....🧵🧵

Running a business comes with freedom and growth opportunities, but it also comes with financial and operational risks that many SMEs don’t always anticipate. A single unexpected event can quickly lead to financial losses, operational downtime, or legal expenses.

Here are five common risks every SME should consider:
#SanlamAllianzKenya #MotorInsuranceKenya #FinancialPlanning 1. Fire or property damage:
Even minor incidents can disrupt operations and lead to costly repairs or replacements. Without coverage, these costs come directly out of business cash flow.

2. Business interruption:
Unexpected events like fire, theft, or political unrest can halt operations. Payroll, supplier payments, and rent may still need to be covered during recovery.
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April is #FinancialLiteracyMonth.

This means it is a month meant for intentional action and moving from knowing to doing. Because at the end of the day, the DOERS are the winners.

Here are five practical ways to truly make this month count and set yourself up to win financially: 1⃣Audit Your Financial Life

Before you can improve anything, you need clarity. Take a deep dive into your finances and be very intentional and practical

Where is your money actually going? Are you living within your means, or slightly ahead of your income every month?

Once you are aware of where you stand, you can be able to plan where you want to go.

#MarketNews
DTB LAUNCHES DTB WEARABLES.....🧵🧵

DTB has launched DTB Wearables, a new range of contactless payment solutions designed to offer greater convenience, speed, security, style, and lifestyle integration for customers making everyday payments.

The NFC-enabled wearables allow customers to make payments by just tapping their wristband or ring on any contactless-enabled point-of-sale terminal. NFC, or Near Field Communication, is a secure short-range wireless technology that enables devices to communicate instantly when brought close together..... Simply linked to customers’ existing DTB debit cards, this solution eliminates the need to carry cash, physical cards, or mobile phones, providing a seamless and convenient payment experience.

In collaboration with Mastercard, and powered by Tappy Pay, DTB Wearables makes DTB the first Tier One bank in Kenya to offer contactless payments via wearables, reinforcing its leadership in innovation and customer-focused banking....

Weekly Highlights! 🧵

Here are some of the biggest stories that made headlines this week

1) Equity Group has reclaimed its top spot as the most profitable bank in East and Central Africa, while HF Group has become the fastest-growing listed bank.

KCB continues to hold its position as the largest bank by assets. 2) HF Group reported a profit before tax of Ksh 1.61 billion for the financial year ended 2025, representing a 250% growth from Ksh 0.46 billion recorded in 2024.

The group expects a pre-tax profit of Ksh 2.486 billion in FY2026, a 54.5% increase from the Ksh 1.609 billion recorded in FY2025.

#EnrichingLives @hfc_kenya

Why SEZs, Why Now? 🧵🧵

The manufacturing sector in Kenya contributes approximately 7-8% of GDP, well below the 15% target envisioned under Kenya Vision 2030. This gap in industrialization, combined with the evolving global supply chains and Africa’s integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has elevated Special Economic Zones (SEZs) from policy tools to strategic economic infrastructure. The framework that defines SEZs is governed by the Special Economic Zone Act and regulated by the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA). According to @SEZAuthority_ke Annual Report 2024, the authority noted cumulative investment commitments of approximately KES 91 billion across licensed SEZs. While commitments reflect investor confidence, actual capital deployment and operationalization remain the more critical long-term goal.

#AbojaniTrueStorySeries

A GENZ WITH A 60K STOCKS PORTFOLIO. 🧵🧵

I started investing, seriously, in my last year of uni. And I saw dust.

It was a business my former classmate and I founded and poured every coin we had gathered in those 4 years at JKUAT selling electronics on commission, after classes. The business died a natural death, after precisely 12 months of making losses and eating into our pockets. So we chose our own sanity. To live to fight another day..... When I first gave employment a chance, my uncle who works in government, organized a pretty decent internship for me. It was a year-long routine of saving money in my bank account, all the while just scouting for investing opportunities. Deep down, I knew the world had a lot to offer me...

.@AbsaKenya Financial Performance Since 2020 in Charts 🧵

1⃣Profit After Tax

#AbsaFY2025Results 2⃣Net Interest Income

7 HABITS OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY BUILD WEALTH 🧵🧵

Building wealth isn’t about luck, flashy investments, or waiting for a windfall. It’s about the daily habits and choices that steadily grow your financial foundation.

Here are seven practices that set long-term wealth builders apart from everyone else..... 1. Pay Yourself First – Save or Invest 20% of Your Income

One of the most important habits of financially successful people is prioritizing themselves before anyone else. Instead of saving whatever is left at the end of the month, they set aside at least 20% of their income for saving or investing as soon as they are paid. This creates a disciplined approach that ensures your future is being funded, no matter how busy life gets or how tempting spending may be. Over time, this habit compounds into substantial financial security.
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Retirement is not just about stepping away from work, it’s about ensuring that the life you’ve built can continue without the monthly paycheck. Planning for it requires more than just saving; it calls for foresight.

1️⃣ First, think about time. How many years do you realistically have before retirement, and how many years will you need to sustain yourself after? Longevity is increasing, which means your money must work longer than ever. 2️⃣ Second, factor in lifestyle. Retirement doesn’t automatically shrink your expenses. In fact, medical costs often rise with age, and leisure spending can too if you plan to travel or pursue hobbies. A clear view of the life you want helps define the resources required.

#TBT

In August 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) made history by launching the world’s first public offering (IPO).

The VOC aimed to raise 6.5 million guilders (equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars today)

The IPO attracted 1,143 investors, ranging from wealthy merchants to ordinary citizens in the Dutch Republic.

That single decision in 1602 gave birth to the modern stock market. Back home, Kenya Commercial Bank was the first company to issue an IPO in Kenya, listing at Sh20.00 in 1988 at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Since then, several companies went public in the years that followed:

National Bank of Kenya (1994) at Sh10.00, Kenya Airways (1996) at Sh11.25, KenGen (April 2006) at Sh11.90, Scan Group (July 2006) at Sh10.45, Eveready (Aug 2006) at Sh9.50, Access Kenya (March 2007) at Sh10.00 and Kenya Re (July 2007) at Sh9.50.

RETIREMENT PLANNING 101: Insights from John Keah of Retirement Benefits Authority.

After decades of working hard, many Kenyans retire with only Ksh 3 million that they expect to sustain them post age 60. Yet, many retirees live even upto 80s and 90s. That’s another 30 years. It is not shocking then, that over 80% of retirees still seek employment for survival.

The math is just not mathing!

Key insights on Retirement landscape in Kenya, by John Keah, Deputy Director, Market Conduct & Industry Development at @RBAKenya The retirement industry in Kenya is regulated by the Retirement Benefits Authority which just celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2025.

Overall, the RBA total assets under management stands at Ksh 2.5 Trillion with a total membership of only 7.5 million Kenyans, out of the about 30 million working population.

TOP 10 MONEY MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE IN THEIR 30s.... 🧵🧵

The 30s are economically decisive years.

For most people, this is the first decade where three forces converge: Income stabilizes or meaningfully increases, Responsibilities expand and Social expectations intensify.

Unlike your 20s, where experimentation is expected and mistakes are often forgiven, your 30s are structurally different.

In your 20s, you can attribute financial instability to background, lack of exposure, or early career limitations. But in your 30s, you begin to become the background.
>> Your habits now don’t just affect you. They affect your household, your parents, and potentially the next generation.

This is why mistakes in your 30s compound more severely than mistakes in your 20s.

Below are ten recurring financial errors that define whether this decade builds wealth or quietly erodes it.
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