Kenya’s wealthiest individuals are no longer just stacking cash in real estate or stocks.

A newly released report reveals that they are pouring big money into lifestyle-driven “passion investments” and the numbers tell it all.

According to the Wealth Report 2025 – Kenya Edition, which was launched at a Stanbic Bank Kenya and Knight Frank wealth insight breakfast in Nairobi, 72 per cent of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) say they want to acquire art, while 50 per cent are eyeing classic cars, and 44 per cent are going after jewellery and luxury furniture.

But beyond the glitz, the research paints a bigger picture: Kenya’s rich are showing growing confidence in their home market.

Less than 10 per cent of them are considering applying for a second passport or foreign citizenship in 2025, a sign that Kenya’s top earners are betting on the country’s stability and growth.

Abraham Ongenge, Head of Personal and Private Banking at Stanbic Bank Kenya, said the bank is enabling growth for its clients through knowledge sharing, market advisory and service differentiation.

“We continue to invest in the right platforms and partnerships to effectively cater to our clients’ wealth creation, planning, and protection needs,” indicated Ongenge.

Knight Frank Mark Dunford pointed out that there is quite a healthy distribution of money in Kenya’s wealth market, a trend that is significantly reshaping the market.

“There is the fact that we’re seeing these smaller portfolios is an indication that we are seeing a growing wealth coming up from middle class and that kind of non-inherited, generational wealth,” Dunford said.

And while art, cars, and jewellery grab the headlines, real estate is quietly shifting.

The report revealed that less than 10 per cent of wealthy Kenyans invested in commercial property last year, and only 1–10 per cent bought a home in 2024 or plan to in 2025.

Instead, it shows an increasing appetite for non-traditional asset classes, including those with environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.

In fact, 72 per cent of Kenya’s HNWIs say they factor community impact into their property investment decisions.

It is a trend that mirrors global shifts, but with a uniquely Kenyan twist, one where new wealth, lifestyle investments, and social responsibility are starting to mix.

Africa now boasts of more than 135,000 high-net-worth individuals, with Kenya being ranked among the leading wealth hubs in the continent.

In that regard, Stanbic Bank is betting that personalized wealth solutions will be the future of wealth management in Kenya and the region.

In short: Kenya’s wealthy are not just growing their fortunes, they are shaping new tastes, trends, and priorities in the country’s luxury and investment landscape.