By: Cynthia Soita
As Kenya’s cities swell like a pot boiling over, real estate has a choice: deplete natural resources or preserve them while building value. Urbanization in Kenya is growing at about 4.4% per year, with only around 30.5% of people currently living in urban areas—but projections show more than 50% will be urban by 2050.
If we keep building in the same wasteful way, our water, energy, air—and future generations—will pay the price. But there is another path: sustainable, EDGE-certified development can be the umbrella that shields us from resource loss, while also building a market that pays off.
Think of Kenya’s resources as savings in a bank. If we keep withdrawing (using up water, energy, clean air) without depositing (restoration, efficiency, sustainable infrastructure), we’ll bankrupt our future.
As urban migration accelerates, demand for housing and infrastructure strains water supply, power grids, natural ventilation, open spaces.
Informal settlements grow; service delivery lags; energy bills rise; water shortages deepen.
With climate change, poor planning, environmental degradation follow—affecting health, productivity, and investor confidence.
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), the IFC’s green building standard, sets minimums—like 20% less energy use, 20% less water use, 20% reduction in embodied energy in materials. Innovations like low-flow water fixtures, efficient lighting, or even solar tech help meet this baseline.
Santana Estate, Mtopanga (Mombasa) – 816 homes + 64 commercial units certified EDGE; about 46% energy saving, 36% water saving (Mwakilishi).
Nationwide – 212 EDGE-certified buildings, including offices, hospitals, hotels, homes—collectively saving thousands of megawatt-hours, cubic metres of water, and reducing carbon emissions.
Dockside Green in Victoria, Canada transformed a polluted brownfield site into a vibrant mixed-use community powered by biomass heating and water recycling. Its success proves that sustainable redevelopment not only restores environments but also creates long-term economic value.
Kenya can emulate this model by converting underutilized or degraded urban spaces into eco-friendly developments.
Mixed-use designs + density
Building vertically, mixing residential, commercial and communal spaces reduces land footprint, infrastructure cost per capita, transport emissions.
Green infrastructure toolkit
Use rainwater harvesting, solar panels, natural ventilation, local sustainable materials, efficient insulation. EDGE’s “software” tool helps model savings per design decision.
Inclusive housing
Integrate affordable units, accessible designs—all while still EDGE certified. That broadens market, ensures higher occupancy rates, and responds to community needs.
Policy & financial incentives
Leverage green bonds, fast-track permits, partner with green finance institutions to reduce upfront costs. Kenya already has regulatory frameworks moving this way.
Fractional ownership models
Allow smaller investments (e.g., Mirako Homes’ 10K fractional ownership) to fund sustainable projects. This spreads risk, democratizes returns, and builds public buy-in.
Kenya’s current real estate approach is like cooking over open fire—it’s cheap at first but smoky, wasteful, and long-term hazardous. EDGE-certified buildings are like installing solar cooktops—higher upfront, but clean, efficient, reliable.
Doing this now means preserving clean air, water, and savings for young families, future generations.
Are we going to be the generation known for exhausting resources, or the one that built sustainable wealth?
From Kenya’s 212 EDGE-certified buildings saving 32,000 MWh of energy and 900,000 cubic metres of water annually to estates like Santana cutting energy by nearly half, the proof is here. Dockside Green in Canada is living evidence that redevelopment and sustainability can transform communities profitably.
Personally, I believe developers in Kenya who embrace EDGE certification, inclusive housing, and community-driven mixed-use projects will not only remain relevant—they will lead. I also recognize the drawbacks: mixed-use designs may raise concerns of traffic, noise, or reduced privacy. But these can be curbed with proper zoning, soundproofing, and integrated green spaces.
This isn’t about chasing a trend—it’s about securing a future. Delay is costly: in infrastructure, in reputation, in regulation, and in lost opportunity. If you are building or investing today, let sustainability be your foundation, not your afterthought.
Related: Sustainable Real Estate: The Rise of EDGE Certified Buildings in Kenya
Related: How Sustainable Growth Is Transforming Satellite Towns into Kenya’s Smart Investment Hubs
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