Knight Frank’s 2026 Wealth and Investment Trends report shows farmland attracted 29 per cent of responses from wealth managers when asked which sectors Kenyan high-net-worth individuals were considering for investment this year.
“The survey reveals an overwhelming consensus among respondents that food production remains the primary motivation driving farmland investment decisions among HNWIs,” said Knight Frank chief executive officer Mark Dunford.
The report adds that 63 per cent of respondents identified tree planting and afforestation as a motivation for farmland investment.
Fifty per cent of respondents cited potential income from carbon credits as a factor.
Forty-four per cent pointed to environmental and sustainability benefits associated with land ownership.
Knight Frank notes that farmland is seen as a tangible asset with limited supply that can preserve wealth during periods of economic uncertainty and protect against inflation.
The report says agricultural land can provide long-term capital appreciation and serve as collateral for future financing, making it attractive as a generational investment.
It also highlights that 26 per cent of wealth managers reported less than 10 per cent of their clients’ wealth was allocated to primary and secondary homes, indicating a shift away from traditional residential property.
Data centres and the residential private rented sector each attracted 24 per cent of responses in the same survey.
Hotels and leisure also accounted for 24 per cent of responses.
Logistics and industrial real estate attracted 18 per cent of responses.
Knight Frank links the growing interest in farmland to Kenya’s expanding population and rising demand for agricultural commodities, which strengthen the investment case for domestic food production.
The firm suggests that investors view farmland as a strategic asset capable of addressing pressures on food supply while offering financial flexibility.
