From L-R: George Odhiambo, Managing Director, National Bank of Kenya; Martin Kariuki, General Manager, Vipingo Development and Ralph Opara, Access Bank Regional Managing Director, East Africa and Country Managing Director, Kenya, during the NBK–Centum MoU signing in Vipingo, Kilifi.
KILIFI, 30th June, 2026 — National Bank of Kenya (NBK) and Centum Real Estate have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at making homeownership and property investment more accessible through flexible and affordable financing solutions.
The partnership, formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kilifi, introduces tailored financing packages for home purchases, land acquisition and construction. The solutions feature flexible repayment plans based on customers’ financial circumstances and competitive monthly instalments.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, National Bank of Kenya Managing Director George Odhiambo said the collaboration underscores a shared commitment to expanding access to homeownership and supporting investment in the real estate sector.
“The partnership we are formalising today represents a shared commitment to enabling home ownership, supporting investment in real estate, and providing customers with tailored financial solutions that help them achieve their aspirations,” Odhiambo said.
He noted that the partnership combines the strengths of both organisations to address the growing demand for affordable property financing.
“Through this collaboration, we will utilise our financial expertise and extensive customer network alongside Centum’s proven real estate capabilities to create solutions that make property ownership more accessible and attractive to a wider segment of the market,” he added.
Centum Real Estate General Manager for Vipingo Development Martin Kariuki said the partnership seeks to transform homeownership from a distant aspiration into an attainable goal.
“A good home should be more than something people admire from a distance. It should be something they can understand, plan for and move toward with confidence,” Kariuki said.
He said the initiative would enable more Kenyans to confidently pursue homeownership through predictable financing arrangements.
“By connecting quality homes with a more predictable financing path, we want to help more customers see ownership as something they can realistically work toward,” he added.
The initiative encourages prospective homeowners to focus on what they can comfortably afford in monthly repayments rather than the total purchase price of a property, making ownership more achievable for first-time buyers and investors.
For instance, a studio apartment valued at KSh2.7 million can be financed through manageable monthly mortgage repayments, significantly lowering the financial barrier to entering the property market.
The financing model also allows clients to begin servicing their mortgages only after their units have been completed and handed over. This gives buyers an opportunity to generate rental income from their investment before commencing loan repayments, enhancing affordability and investment returns.
Commenting on the partnership, Access Bank Regional Managing Director for East Africa and Country Managing Director for Kenya, Ralph Opara, said the agreement represents more than a financing arrangement.
“This MOU is not simply about financing property transactions. It reflects our commitment to leveraging Access Bank Group’s international reach, financial strength and deep market expertise to unlock opportunities for our customers,” Opara said.
He said the collaboration would strengthen access to property ownership while supporting sustainable development and long-term wealth creation.
“Together with Centum, we are creating pathways to property ownership and investment while supporting sustainable development, wealth creation and long-term economic growth for Kenya,” he added.
The partnership combines NBK’s financial expertise with Centum Real Estate’s track record in developing integrated urban communities to expand access to property ownership and investment while contributing to Kenya’s broader economic development agenda.
