KCB Bank Kenya and Centum Real Estate have teamed up in a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at addressing the growing demand for affordable housing in East Africa.

With plans to construct over 10,000 housing units across the region, the partnership is set to bring affordable homeownership within reach for many Kenyans.

KCB’s role in this venture includes offering a wide array of banking solutions and end-user financing to help prospective homeowners secure mortgages for newly constructed properties.

The bank will also provide crucial debt financing to Centum Real Estate, enabling the company to proceed with the development of modern housing estates.

Caroline Wanjeri, KCB’s Director of Mortgage Business, spoke about the significance of the partnership, explaining the bank’s broader role in facilitating access to affordable housing.

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“As a regional bank, we bear a strong responsibility to facilitate access to safe, secure, and affordable homes through our mortgage solutions, which is why we have pursued this partnership,” she said.

“Our approach to housing finance is multifaceted, combining innovative mortgage solutions with a strong focus on sustainable development and thereby working with like-minded partners to offer affordable and accessible solutions to Kenyans and address the nation’s housing needs.”

Wanjeri elaborated on the vision behind the partnership, which aims to bridge the housing gap in Kenya.

“The partnership aims to bridge the housing gap with flexible, sustainable home financing solutions by enhancing end-user financing options for customers seeking to purchase units within Centum Real Estate projects, while also supporting Centum with development financing to drive the delivery of quality, modern homes,” she added.

For Centum, the collaboration with KCB Bank represents an opportunity to continue unlocking potential in the housing sector.

Kenneth Mbae, Managing Director of Centum Real Estate, highlighted the long-term value of their developments, which are largely designed for investors.

“We are pleased to have KCB Bank as one of our valued financing partners as we continue to unlock opportunities within the housing sector,” Mbae said.

“Our developments are designed to serve a wide market with predominantly being investors. A key example is our Two Rivers development, where we are priming the project to cater to the growing demand for rental properties, particularly from the United Nations and diplomatic clientele. With the expansion of the UN's operations in Nairobi, we anticipate significant demand for high-quality housing, providing strong dollar denominated returns for our investors and contributing to the continued growth of the region’s real estate market.”

The partnership is a significant step toward fulfilling Centum’s vision of creating large-scale, sustainable, and well-planned communities.

With projects already making waves in Nairobi, Vipingo, and Entebbe, Centum Real Estate is positioning itself as a key player in East Africa’s property market.

In a previous joint effort, KCB and Centum held a showcase at Two Rivers, giving potential buyers a close look at developments such as Cascadia, Mzizi, Riverbank, and The Loft.

The event highlighted both firms’ shared goal of delivering accessible and affordable housing.

This new partnership strengthens that mission, aiming to reshape Kenya’s housing market through smart financing and quality developments for both homeowners and investors.