A look at Project Management in Kenya Real Estate – The essentials of a Project Management and Manager’s Plan for Investment Risks Management in Kenya Real Estate Market.

The real estate development process is multi-dimensional, capital intensive, multi-disciplinary, public-private interactive, and time-consuming with extremely diversified stakeholders. The real estate development process has many uncertainties due to the changing economic conditions, government regulations, financing, competition, and project execution delays. Therefore, the risks and uncertainties for real estate projects are high and require highly systemized methodologies to manage them. Real estate project management helps to anticipate and track the myriad elements and details along the path of a real estate project from concept to execution while also avoiding risk.

Real estate project management involves setting up all the components of a project together to work in sync. A logical approach to bind together the various components of a real estate project with effective planning improves the chances for a success in delivery of the project.

Overview of the Real Estate Development Process

The real estate development process is successfully achieved by initiating and completing projects within the shortest time and market specified budget; and at the highest quality.

The development process consists of four interdependent phases, outlined in the table below:

Conceiving and Initiating the Project

An Real Estate Investor or a project manager first goes through a feasibility study, in which they look at the viability, cost, and timeline to evaluate the level of preparedness to reach a successful project completion within market constraints. In this stage, investors or project managers also identify potential issues and risks that directly impact their projects. For risk management, the project management team does a comprehensive assessment with the Investor to gain a clear and all-encompassing understanding of the purpose, needs, goals, priorities, and objectives of the real estate project. With a thorough assessment, the Project Manager will be able to precisely watch for the client’s best interest throughout the entire real estate project.
The project management in Kenya real estate is dependent on the above development process for risk management. The key essentials involved in real estate project management process include the following:

Define and Plan the Project

The project manager outlines the tasks within the timeline, noting project milestones and the resources needed to do those tasks within the budget allotted. The project management plan should be transparent so that all stakeholders are on the same page and understand what needs to be done over the project’s life cycle. The project management plan involves detailing the cost, scope, duration, quality, and communications used in the project. Also, this stage involves the procurement of the project’s materials. The project manager creates the Request for Proposals (RFPs) and issues them to several bidders per discipline. Upon response to RFPs, the project management team analyzes results and awards contracts to the best vendor for the job.

Listed below are the essentials in a real estate project management plan:

1.Executive Summary

It provides a brief description of the critical elements of the project.

2. Project Scope

The Project scope defines the objectives and goals of the project and the project’s deliverables. The project scope focuses on the project and work breakdown structure and the quality requirements of the project.

3. Feasibility Estimation

In this section, the project manager evaluates different aspects of the project, such as monetary, technical, organizational, and operational feasibility. This section also identifies and assesses project risks and develops strategies to avoid these risks.

4. Project Limitations

This section includes a list of constraints such as budget, environmental, cultural, and availability of resources.

5. Training and Infrastructure Requirements

The project plan mentions the Technical Personnel that will be included in the project team for completing the project successfully and their training requirements for the team members. This also includes details about requirements such as infrastructure, equipment (software and hardware), and other resources to complete the real estate project successfully.

6. Project Schedule

The section provides critical information about the job activities schedule and the project milestone, focusing on the deliverables, duration, and critical dependencies.

7. Budget Estimate

In this section, costs are segregated into capital items, expense items, and labor.

8. Risk Management

This section addresses the risks associated with the project and as well as other project issues that might arise during the real estate project development process, and risks mitigation strategies.

9. Communication Management

This section of the real estate project plan mentions the communication mechanism that the project manager will employ for communication between stakeholders and the team members. An effective communication mechanism will ensure that all the project team members and stakeholders are timely informed about the project development progress.

Launch the Project

At this stage, the project manager takes the plan for implementation, along with all the changes and issues that can arise during the development process. During this stage, project managers work to see an efficient delivery of the project in the timeframe noted in the plan. The project manager conducts workload management, resource allocation and frequently sets up meetings and reports throughout this stage.

Track Project Performance

Throughout construction or during the real estate project cycle, the real estate project management team will closely monitor all activities involved in the project. This includes site meetings, monitoring change orders, and tracking project progress against schedule, budget, and legal documents.

Finally, during the project completion, the real estate project management team delivers all the project documents- warranties, invoices, contract records, legal documents, etc. to the Investor in an organized manner.

CONCLUSION

A real estate project, like any business, is presented continuously with many challenges, opportunities, and uncertainties. Hence, the need for an efficient project management vehicle to analyze, prioritize, and align these constraints and opportunities for successful completion of the real estate project within budget and timeframe. For this reason, professional property management services become a vital essential in a real estate development process for efficient execution of the project.

Buildafrique Consulting Group is a specialist and expert in Joint Venture Structuring in Kenya, Real Estate Project Finance and Capital Raising,  conducting Real Estate Feasibility Studies, Development Project Management and Consultancy in Kenya for real estate investment projects.

B.) WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

          MAJOR ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

i.) Fuel prices remain unchanged

On Wednesday 14^th April 2021, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) retained the fuel charges imposed in the March-April 2021 review for the April-May 2021 period. According to EPRA, the decision was arrived at to protect the interests of consumers and investors in the petroleum sectors. As a result, a litre of petrol will continue retailing at Sh122.81 in Nairobi, diesel at 107.66, and kerosene at 97.85.

ii.) Kenya shillings strengthen to an 8-month high

On 16^th April 2021, the shilling strengthened to eight-and-a-half month-high against the US dollar, with traders linking this on strong inflows from foreign investors who oversubscribed to State’s Sh60 billion infrastructure bond. The Kenyan currency was averaging 107.30 units against the dollar in Friday’s trade, marking the 12th straight day of gaining ground to the US dollar. The local currency was also enjoying support from muted foreign currency demand due to reduced dividend repartition and strong remittances partly on flower export receipts.

iii.) IFC avails Kshs 30B for onward lending to SMEs in the health sector

The International Finance Corporation has announced partnerships with health technology firm Philips and the Co-operative Bank of Kenya to help small businesses in the health sector purchase essential medical equipment and strengthen their response to COVID-19 and other pressing healthcare challenges. The deal is designed to provide risk-sharing facilities to help small businesses access up to 30 billion shillings in loans and leases.

iv.) KRA collects over Ksh.21 billion through out-of-court deals

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected over Ksh.21 billion through out-of-court deals reached through its Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. That follows the resolution of 393 ADR cases between July 2020 and March 2021. According to KRA’s Commissioner in charge of legal services and board coordination Paul Matuku, there has been a 109 percent growth in the number of cases and a 389 percent growth in revenue unlocked during the nine-month period compared to a similar period during the 2019/2020 financial year. KRA further noted that it had recorded a 56 percent growth in the number of ADR applications to 661 from 425 received in the financial year 2019/2020.

          CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS

i.) Development permits issuance around Konza City suspended for 90 days

The county governments of Machakos, Makueni, and Kajiado have suspended the issuance of new development permits around the Konza Technopolis area. According to the county executives from the three counties, the permits fall in the area falling within the ten-kilometer radius dubbed ‘Konza Planning Zone’ with the suspension expected to last 90 days. The decision was reached to enable a newly constituted Inter-County Joint Physical and Land Use Planning Committee to develop a plan to provide guidelines and standards for regulation of land use practices and general development within the zone.

 ii) John Deere to expand into Kenya construction industry

John Deere, a re-Known agricultural machine manufacturer, has announced its intention to compete in the construction sector in the Kenyan market among other African Nations, where Deere-branded construction products were not previously available. According to the company, the expansion, which will include the availability of backhoe loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, and crawler dozers, will be sold and supported by independent, newly appointed John Deere dealers.

iii.) AAK develops new index to assess the performance of green buildings in Kenya

The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) has developed a national green building certification tool that is aimed to assess projects in the local built setting to establish their environmental performance. According to the AAK, the rating system, dubbed Safari Green Building Index, will be unveiled in August 2021 and is expected to improve the number of green buildings in Kenya by encouraging investors to build sustainable structures.

iv.) KCAA introduced levies for owning and operating drones in Kenya

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has introduced levies for owning and operating drones in Kenya following the operationalization of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Regulations 2020. According to the KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe, the gazettement of drone regulations in Kenya has ushered in a new era in the local aviation field by opening up the sector to inventions. The drones are primarily used for bid process preparation, site planning, progress tracking, and construction site risk mitigation, hence enhancing site safety and data collection, as well as promoting cost savings.

          COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE HIGHLIGHTS

i.)  Mortgage and car loan defaults cross Sh100bn

New data by the Central Bank of Kenya indicate that default on mortgages and loans advanced to the transport sector has crossed the Sh100 billion mark in the wake of covid-19 restriction measures. According to the data, the real estate sector topped loan defaults over the nine months to December 2020 as the country reeled from an economic crisis due to the pandemic. According to the apex bank, loans secured through title deeds posted the fastest default growth rates over the period, coinciding with crippling travel restrictions and scaled-down business operations to curb the spread of Covid-19.

ii.) 86.4 percent of Nairobians live in rented houses

According to new statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), 86.4 percent of households in Nairobi live in rented houses. At the same time, 82.2 percent of households in Mombasa are tenants. Others are Kajiado (59.5 percent), Kiambu (51.6 percent), Nakuru (46.3 percent), Uasin Gishu (44 percent) and Kisumu (42.2 percent). According to the statistics, the majority of Kenyans cannot afford mortgages over the high interest rates and the initial deposit required to access a mortgage.

iii.)  CBD leads in office space supply despite mass exits from multinationals

According to the latest report by Cytonn Investments, the CBD is still one of the areas with the largest supply of office space with a market share of 18 per cent, despite big companies leaving Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) and opting to set base in alternative areas such as Upper Hill and Westlands. According to the report, Upperhill and Westlands came in second and third with a market share of 17.9 per cent and 17.65 per cent.

iv.) Urithi Cooperative to auction loan defaulter’s houses

Real estate developer Urithi Housing Cooperative Society plans to auction houses of members who have failed to make payments. According to the Urithi chairman Samuel Maina, the move is meant to raise Sh1.5 billion to complete many of the developer’s stalled projects spread across the country and to give returns to compliant members. The chairman further noted that no member will lose their initial investment but that they will be refunded after the properties are sold, and operational expenses are deducted.

C.) KENYA REAL ESTATE TRENDS

At Week #16 of 2021, the following are Kenya Real Estate and Development Trends that are influencing Investment Decisions in Kenya Real Estate Market.

i.) Satellite towns continue to anchor real estate sector rebound

Nairobi Satellite towns, regarded as the Capital’s dormitory for their popularity with the working class, continue to anchor the rebound of the Kenya real estate sector. According to a new report covering the performance of the Kenya real estate sector through the first quarter of 2021 to March 2021 shows improved residential sector and land returns anchored on the growth of the satellite towns.

Total return to investors in the quarter in the residential sub-sector, for instance, averaged 5.1 per cent from 4.7 per cent in 2019, while land recorded an annualized capital appreciation of 2.8 per cent. At the same time, apartments in satellite towns averaged the highest return in the residential sector at 5.4 per cent, while unserviced land in these towns recorded a 7.2 per cent average surge in prices, boosting real estate recovery. The report indicates that Satellite towns are witnessing increased activity, with people trying to look for affordable home options, supporting the real estate sector’s performance. Furthermore, the attractiveness of the satellite towns has further been anchored on improved infrastructure, which has made Central Business District (CBD) easily accessible. Moreover, price points in satellite towns have presented potential homeowners and investors with attractive entry points to make the switch from the suburbs.

ii.) Shifting customer demand continues to shape the warehousing market

Kenya’s industrial real estate sector is undergoing a transformation, with the traditional design of warehouses giving way to modern ones that are located in more convenient locations. Clients are now demanding a serene location different from the congested Industrial Area, Baba Dogo, and Mombasa Road areas of Nairobi, where most of the country’s old warehouses are located. Industrial parks are now moving to areas within Nairobi’s periphery such as Kiambu and Machakos counties, where they are easily accessible and are still in close proximity to key infrastructural developments such as the airport and railway termini.

The continued shift in taste is attributed to the changing clientele who prefer high-quality stock, which allows for modern retailing, distribution, and manufacturing practices. Modern industrial parks such as Tatu Industrial Park which is located in Ruiru, Infinity along the Eastern Bypass and Tilisi in Limuru, Kiambu county, have sprung up to meet the new demand. According to the Knight Frank Africa report 2020/21, the country will continue to witness more modern industrial developments away from the traditional industrial spaces due to the heightened infrastructural development witnessed in the country.

D.) GLOBAL REAL ESTATE TRENDS

At Week #16 of 2021, the following are the Global Real Estate and Development Trends that are influencing Investment Decisions in Kenya Real Estate Market.

i.) Capital flows’ recovery continues to pick up the pace

Real estate capital markets saw a continued rebound in activity in the final quarter of 2020, with the pace of quarterly declines decelerating. Robust transaction volumes during Q4, which were down a moderate 21% year-on-year, helped push full-year volumes to US$762 billion. Western countries with sectorial diversity, scale, and transparency led the recovery over the past three months in quarter 1 of 2021, notably France, Germany, and the United States. Investor interest gained momentum in gateway markets, particularly in Europe and Asia, as well as in growing talent hubs.

A divergent appetite for risk remains prevalent for both investors and lenders in Kenya and globally, with high-quality, core products seeing the deepest liquidity. Sectors offering growth or stability, such as logistics and living assets, are experiencing more resilient pricing. However, as bid-ask spreads continue to converge and risk aversion begins to subside, broader gains are poised to accelerate, particularly in segments of the office, retail and hospitality sectors.

ii.) Companies around the Globe continues to sell their Real Estate to preserve liquidity

Real estate companies around the globe are selling record amounts of real estate as they rush to shore up their Covid-19-battered balance sheets. According to Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL), firms across Europe, the Middle East and Africa sold 27 billion euros ($32 billion) of corporate properties in 2020. That was slightly more than what was sold in 2019, even as overall real estate deals collapsed during the pandemic.

According to JLL, companies in Kenya and around the globe are ditching property investment to preserve capital and release liquidity, as well as to reshape their portfolios to support post-pandemic business plans. Of the real estate sales, a third of corporate sales were office properties, with volumes jumping 10% from 2019. According to Real Capital Analytics data, all types of commercial real estate sales in Europe plunged by 27% in 2020, with this percentage likely to surge in 2021. Many of these real estate sales involved leaseback agreements, allowing companies to access capital while maintaining their premises. The forced shift to home working is also provoking many businesses to reconsider how much real estate they need. According to JLL EMEA Corporate Solutions CEO Mark Caskey, there is a wholesale rethink from many enterprises on their relationship to real estate.

E.) COMMON REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES,  AND SOLUTIONS

Converting Land into Income Generating Property in Kenya, and Solutions available to Real Estate Investors.

YOUR CHALLENGE:

The need to own land property in Kenya is nearly immeasurable, with most Kenyans wanting to own a piece of property in their investment strategy. Simply put, an exponentially enormous portion of the population has the desire or need to investment in land property. The challenge however comes in turning the land property into an income generating investment venture, as would be expected for most investment option in the market.

THE SOLUTIONS:

There are various options and solution for converting your land into an income generating property, ranging from real estate and agricultural investment option. This article focuses on real option that you can utilize to turn your land property into an income generating vehicle, as outline by the various options below:

• Permanent Real Estate Development: – Development of permanent Real Estate Structures is what comes to mind to most people when they want to add value into land property, for income generation. This can include development of residential real estate development, commercial real estate, industrial real estate development, health care real estate, or education institutions like school. The limitation to this is that Permanent Real Estate Development is capital intensive and most people may not have all the capital for the investment venture.
• Temporary Vocational Rentals: – Vacation rentals can present a lucrative path to profits on your land property. Not only can you make some side hustle income from vacation rentals, but you could potentially make a significant amount of money and build up a substantial passive income stream if you’re in a highly-trafficked tourist locale. This could include development of temporary rental structures like camp sites and temporary cottages for rent.
• Lease Option: – Lease option of the entire land property is another option for generating income on land property. This can include lease out the land for agricultural purposes or commercial purposes. The land owner would enter into a lease agreement with the lessee who gain exclusive use of the land property for a certain period of time.
• Collateral security to borrow Investment Capital: – Another option of generating income on land property using the land as collateral security to borrow capital for investment purposes. The investment can be on the land property or elsewhere. The landowner must however be able to work out the investment returns of the proposed investment to ensure that the returns are more than the cost of capital he or she is borrowing.
• Special Events/Corporate Retreats/Religious Retreats: – The event world has been growing in Kenya, and people want to have a getaway weekend or an experience on a farm, ranch or property outside of the city. Your land can provide the opportunity to them by leasing out to hold special events like corporate events or religious retreats, if your land is strategically located for easy access.

THE CONSULTANT TO ENGAGE:

The Consultants to engage in advisory for real estate investments and income generation is a Real Estate Investment Consultant and Research Analyst.  Buildafrique Consulting Group is a specialist in Real Estate Development Consultancy, advisory on Investment in Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Development Project Management, and Quantity Surveying.

F.) THIS WEEK ON FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs), AND ANSWERS

QUESTION:

Where do I Start for a Real Estate Investment Project that require capital funding from a Finance Investors in Kenya?

ANSWER:

The Investment appetite in Kenya has brought a need for most Kenyans to add value into their land properties through Real Estate Development, ranging from residential, commercial, and industrial developments. However, research has shown than there is no clear information in the market and to many investors on where to start or what to start with while undertaking a venture in real estate development projects. In particular, a lot of investor do not know where to start from while seeking to raise funding from real estate finance investors or bank. Below is an outline step by step process on how to package a real estate business plan for investors while seeking capital funding, and information on where to start as an investor.

• Real Estate Feasibility Study: – A real estate feasibility study is a market research exercise that is undertaken by a Real Estate Research Analyst to establish the Viability a certain real estate investment option, or to determine feasible investment options on land property. The Feasibility study also demonstrate to the investor and financier the various investment risks on the proposed venture on how they can be mitigated. Another important result from a feasibility study is that it defines the real estate product to be design in the property or to be invested on the property, including design specifications like floor areas, unit size, and amenities. The real estate investor should therefore start by conducting a feasibility study, so as to establish viability or feasible investment option, as well as advise the Design Architect on the investment product to design.
• Concept Design: – Following definition of the product in the feasibility study, meeting the Design Architect becomes the next step. However, it is recommended to have the Feasibility Study Research Analyst work together with the Design Architect during the feasibility study exercise, to allow the Research Analyst to incorporate any research input that would be required by the Architect in his or her design. At this point, the Design Architect utilize the information generated by the Feasibility Study, mainly the Product Definition, to come up with the concept design for the investment project as well as outline design that include all the measurements and floor layouts.
• Project Cost Plan: – Project Cost Plan is an important component in a real estate business plan to be presented to the investor as it shows the budget requirement for the project. This would be generated by a Quantity Surveyor who works from the Design Concepts generated by the Design Architect in the previous stage. The Project Cost Plan would also help the Financial Analyst to draw Financial projections and Investment Models for the project in the next stage.
• Financial Analysis, Investment Model, and Real Estate Business Plan: – The Real Estate Financial Analyst would come in at this stage for Financial Analysis of the investment venture for the proposed project, which include investment models, cash flow models, capital structures, and investment design analysis models. This is to help establish and determine the financial viability of the investment for the investor and the financier. Equity financed project would also require structuring of Joint Venture investment models, which are prepared by a Real Estate Joint Venture Finance Specialist.

Above information is complied in one document called a Real Estate Business Plan, which include an Executive Summary, Market Research Feasibility Study, Concept Design, Project Cost Plan, and Financial Models. The Real Estate Business Plan can also include Project Management Methodology from a Project Manager, Operational Methodology for the Investment, Marketing Strategy, and Risk Analysis.

• Sending of the Business Plan Investment Teaser to Investors.

The Final Stage would be for the Investor to send the Business Plan or Investment Teaser to prospective Investors or Banks for investment or financing interests.

It is recommended to have a PROJECT MANAGER in the project to coordinate all of above activities for the Client or Investor. The Project Manager should be a consultant with majority of expertise in above consultancy field. Buildafrique Consulting Group is a specialist in Real Estate Development Consultancy, advisory on Investment in Real Estate, Real Estate Feasibility Studies, Real Estate Finance, Development Project Management, and Quantity Surveying.

G.) THIS WEEK ON DEVELOPMENT COSTS ANALYSIS – MUGUGA AREA , WAIYAKI WAY

This week’s focus on Development Cost Analysis is for Muguga Area, Waiyaki Way in Kiambu County, this being residential and commercial area in Kiambu County. The Development type in this area according to the land-use and county zoning regulations includes Apartment Blocks, Maisonettes and Town House, and Shopping and Retail Complex.

Below is an analysis of Construction Cost per Square Meter (SM), for the option of procuring the development project through a Building Contractor, or an option of direct procurement of the Materials and Labour through a Labour Contractor for recommended building types.

H.) THIS WEEK ON REAL ESTATE PRICE ANALYSIS –MUGUGA AREA, WAIYAKI WAY

The Real Estate price analysis focus for this week is on land, sale, and rental prices for a 2 and 3 bedroom apartment in Muguga Area -Waiyaki Way, Kiambu County. The data were obtained through surveys, and analysis of asking prices on property listings in Nairobi.

i.) Sales price – Apartment and houses

ii.) Rent price – Apartment and houses

iii.)Land price per acre (commercial/residential)

I.) CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA INTEREST RATE WATCH – (T-BILLS)

91 T-bill rates increased by 0.011%, from 7.10% the previous week to 7.11%. CBK offered a total of Ksh 4 Billion, and bids amounted to Ksh 3.161 Billion, of which all was accepted. 182-day T-bill rate increased by 0.02 points from 7.910% the previous week to 7.94%. CBK offered a total of Ksh 10 Billion, and bids amounted to Ksh 2.559 Billion, of which all was accepted. The 364-day -bill increased by 0.04 points from 9.37% the previous week to 9.40%. CBK offered a total of Ksh 10 Billion, and bids amounted to Ksh 14.626 Billion, of which Ksh 12.665 Billion was accepted.

The interbank rate rose sharply on tightening liquidity after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) took custody of the Sh81.94 billion raised from investors in the Infrastructure bond sale and banks remitted quarterly tax collections to the exchequer. Commercial banks’ excess reserves stood at KSh 14.1 billion in relation to the 4.25 percent cash reserves requirement (CRR).

J.) KENYA EQUITY MARKET INDICES

Investors’ trading confidence at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) reduced in the week ended 16^th April 2021, evidenced by decreased trading activities. During the week, foreign investors assumed a net buying position by accounting for 69.38% of the total market sales and 62.08% of the total market purchases.

The NSE All-Share Index, NSE 20 share index, NSE 25 share index, market capitalization, total shares traded, and equity turnover, which are the main measures of the equity market’s performance, changed by +4.09%, +0.75%, +3.34%, +4.10%, -25.28% and -32.77%, respectively. The I-REIT turnover and I-REIT deals increased by 303.97% and 35.71%, respectively.

K.) CURRENCY HIGHLIGHTS

The Kenya Shilling strengthened against major international and regional currencies during the week ending 15^th April 2021, on the back of increased forex inflows. It exchanged at KSh 107.06 per US dollar on 15^th April 2021, compared to KSh 108.24 per US dollar on 8^th April 2021.

The usable foreign exchange reserves remained adequate at USD 7,425 million (4.56 months of import cover) as of 15^th April 2021. This meets the CBK’s statutory requirement to endeavor to maintain at least 4 months of import cover and the EAC region’s convergence criteria of 4.5 months of import cover.

M.) FACTORS THAT WILL SHAPE THE REAL ESTATE AND OTHER MARKETS IN THE NEXT ONE WEEK.

At Week #16 of 2021, the following are factors that will shape the Kenya Real Estate and Development Market in the next one week, for your Investments Risks Management:

i.) Reducing Covid-19 positivity rate

In the past two weeks, the Covid-19 positivity rate has been declining sharply. On 3^rd April 2021, Kenya recorded 1,091 new Covid-19 cases from a sample size of 5,958 tested, marking a high positivity rate of 18.3%. On 16 April 2021, 486 people tested positive for the disease, from a sample size of 4,134 tested in 24 hours, bringing the positivity rate to 11.8%. According to the Ministry of Health, this trend is expected to continue, providing the Covid-19 protocols are observed.

Flattening of the Covid-19 infection curve is expected to allow more workers to resume working from the offices, and hence the occupancy in commercial offices will be boosted. Furthermore, Investment confidence is expected to be restored, and more investment shifted from government securities to real estate and equities. More money from foreign investors, who had previously avoided property investment, is expected to be injected into the real estate as investor confidence is boosted. Economic recovery efforts are also expected to accelerate in the coming weeks as more people resume work and more businesses reopen.

ii.) Suspension of Cargo Transportation along the county Borders

According to notice by the Kenya Transporters Association dated 16^th April 2021, cargo transportation will soon stop if the Covid-19 testing reagents are not made available at the county borders. So far, drivers are not tested at Nairobi, Mai Mahiu, and Malaba as the Centres are closed due to a lack of the reagent to process the samples, with more centers likely to be closed.

In the next week, we expect transportation of construction materials such as steel, blocks, fittings, and cement to be delayed as the government works to sort the border issue. Therefore, construction activities are expected to stall as other construction sites may close due to lack of materials, lengthening construction timelines. This is also expected to increase the construction budget as some site supervisors or contractors opt to secure construction materials from other secondary sources, which are usually more expensive.

As a risk management measure, Real Estate Investors are advised to use this window to refurbish real estate products, offices and retail stores. Investment Opportunities are also expected to emerge to resellers of construction materials, who could package to sell their products at reasonable prices.

N.) UPCOMING REAL ESTATE EVENTS AND TRADE SHOWS IN THE COMING ONE WEEK.

i.) Webinar: Taking the Bold Step in Kenya Real Estate- The webinar will discuss the initial stages of the real estate investment process.

Date: 20^th April 2021

Time: 8:00 – 10:00 AM

Venue: Online

Event Organizer: https://ke.ncbagroup.com/

ii.) Webinar: Global Investment, Real Estate and Residency Show– The webinar will review the global real estate investment size.

Date: 21^th April 2021

Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Venue: Online

Event Organizer: https://teg-media.com/upcomingevents/

Writer of the Report:

This Report is written by Buildafrique Consulting Group, Kenya multi-disciplinary consultancy, that offers END-TO-END DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY, REAL ESTATE, and PROJECT FINANCE solutions through specialized subsidiaries. Among our solutions includes:

1. Feasibility Studies and Market Research.
2. Project Finance and Capital Raising.
3. Joint Venture & Finance Structuring.
4. Project Management.
5. Investment Design Appraisal.
6. Quantity Surveying
7. Construction Cost Consultancy
8. Physical Planning and Planning Permissions
9. Environmental Management and Impact Assessment
10. Real Estate Development and Structured Investment Solutions
11. Property Valuation
12. Marketing and Property Sales Agency
13. Property Management and Facility Management

Our Contacts:

• Office: Navigators, Kindaruma Road, Nairobi.
• Website: buildafrique.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Tel: +254 20 8058493  /  Mobile: +254 722 474285 

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this report is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information contained on the report for any purpose. Readers are therefore advised in all circumstances to seek the advice of Registered and Licensed professionals in all matters related to Real Estate Investment and Project Development.