By Syovata Ndambuki
At a glance, Kilifi is a quiet, shy town with nothing much to marvel at. But when you explore different parts of the town, you’ll notice outstanding traits. Like how clean the town is and how distinct of a personality it possesses, compared to all other coastal towns. Delving deeper will show you how this small, shy town is curving a niche in luxury real estate and property values are soaring faster than ever. But how did Kilifi end up as the queen of luxury real estate?
Let’s first take a look at the other contenders. Mombasa town has been in the tourism game for a long time. It was the first coastal town to get noticed by both local and international tourists, thanks to its rich history. Since the precolonial years, it has been a melting pot of political, economic and social interests. In fact, it was the first capital city of Kenya before Nairobi took over in 1907. As the town began to develop into a modern commercial hub, demand for housing grew and that meant the real estate sector had to meet this demand. Like any other commercial town, housing developments mushroomed everywhere, catering to different social classes. Hence, inasmuch as property values increased, Mombasa has been an all-rounder when it comes to different real estate classes.
Then Ukunda enters the scene, from right next door in south coast, Kwale County. Only an hour or so from Mombasa, Ukunda town boasts Diani, the crown jewel of South Coast Real Estate. For a minute, it seemed this hidden gem would steal the luxury real estate crown. And it did for a while with developments such as the expanded air strip, high end hotels and various social amenities fueling rapid growth. When the Liwatoni bridge was built to connect Mombasa and Ukunda and the rest of the South Coast, it seemed like a game changer for the real estate sector on this part of coast. Diani is almost an exclusive neighbourhood. Within a short span it attracted amenities that Mombasa took ages to attract. And people began to invest here, some building luxury homes and others tapping into the booming hospitality sector. Diani has the whitest sandy beaches you can possibly find at the Kenyan coast and its cosmopolitan population makes it a perfect tourism destination for many. When it comes to luxury real estate, there are a number of remarkable properties. The quiet beach front properties dotting the white sandy beaches are every homeowner’s dream, but Diani is receiving some stiff competition from Kilifi.
Before we explore Kilifi’s luxury real estate, let’s take a detour to Malindi. A historical Gem whose name has been featured in real estate news a lot more often than in all other towns. Malindi is no doubt a speculators’ playground and a tourist hotspot. It offers unique experiences for visitors with its rich history and cultural heritage. But this small town still lacks significant amenities that would attract bigwigs in the investment world. And that leaves us with Kilifi town.
Kilifi’s growth can be attributed to a number of things. For starters, the road networks opened up real estate in the town. The town is accessible from all major coastal towns, and it is just an hour’s drive from Malindi Airport. But perhaps Kilifi’s curse turned out to be its greatest blessing. Unlike all other coastal towns, Kilifi is yet to attract significant numbers when it comes to tourism and hospitality. Instead, it is attracting major developments in luxury real estate with property prices soaring through the roof. Some of the most notable developments include Vipingo Ridge, a lifestyle, luxury development on a 2,500 acres parcel of land with an outstanding 18-hole golf course. Vipingo’s master plan mimics a small city development like Tatu City where different developers sell different types of properties within the gated community. Of course, the coastal landscape and beach views set it apart from another similar concept. There is also Mandharini, a luxury development with villas overlooking a creek. The Green Heart of Kenya, an eco-village whose masterplan is intended to turn the place into a unique sustainable village, is the first of its kind on the region and perhaps in Kenya.
These kinds of developments have elevated Kilifi’s status as the queen of luxury real estate, where developers experiment with unique concepts that have only been tried in larger, more developed towns. In addition, Kilifi’s beach front properties have attracted more residentials than commercial or hospitality buildings, making it a perfect place to enjoy late retirement years in calm and quiet. Moreover, some of the beach front properties are set on slopping cliffs, which give them unique views of the dramatic ocean waves and serene turquoise waters. Who wouldn’t want to live on such properties?
It seems the town’s lack of significant tourism activity has made it a go to investment destination for people who want a piece of coastal real estate without the tourism hype. Unlike most coastal towns where beaches are flooded with tourists and beach boys, Kilifi offers a calm peaceful experience, making it the perfect hideaway for anyone looking for a simple private experience. A luxury holiday home in Kilifi, which could easily serve as a retirement home or a hospitality investment in the future, makes perfect sense. For now, we can only wait and see if Kilifi will retain its status as the home of luxury real estate in the future.
