By Eddah Waithaka
The partnership introduces flexible financing solutions that shift the focus from lump-sum prices to affordable monthly repayments
National Bank of Kenya (NBK) and Centum Real Estate have signed a strategic partnership that promises to transform the path to homeownership for thousands of Kenyans.
The collaboration, formalized during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony in Kilifi, introduces tailored financing solutions including mortgages for home purchases, land acquisition, and construction financing. Customers will benefit from flexible repayment options structured around their individual financial circumstances, supported by highly competitive monthly instalments.
“This partnership represents a shared commitment to enabling home ownership, supporting investment in real estate, and providing customers with tailored financial solutions,” said George Odhiambo, Managing Director of National Bank of Kenya. “Through this collaboration, we will utilize 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.”
Rethinking the Path to Property Ownership
For many Kenyans, the dream of owning a home often appears out of reach when viewed through the lens of a lump-sum purchase price. Through this partnership, NBK and Centum Real Estate are changing that narrative. Rather than focusing solely on the total cost of a property, prospective homeowners can now ask a more empowering question: “What can I comfortably afford each month?”
This customer-centric approach transforms property ownership from an aspirational goal into an achievable reality. A studio apartment valued at KES 2.7 million, for instance, can now be financed through manageable monthly repayments, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for first-time buyers and investors alike.
“A good home should be more than something people admire from a distance,” said Martin Kariuki, General Manager of Vipingo Development. “It should be something they can understand, plan for, and move toward with confidence. 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.”
Investor-Friendly Structure Sets Partnership Apart
A standout feature of the offering is its investor-friendly structure. Clients begin servicing their mortgage only after their units have been completed and handed over, allowing them to generate rental income from their properties and leverage those earnings toward their repayments.
The partnership extends beyond NBK and Centum, with Access Bank’s regional leadership expressing strong support for the initiative.
“This MOU is not simply about financing property transactions,” said Ralph Opara, Access Bank Regional Managing Director for East Africa and Country Managing Director for Kenya. “It reflects our commitment to leveraging Access Bank Group’s international reach, financial strength, and deep market expertise to unlock opportunities for our customers. 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.”
By combining NBK’s financial expertise with Centum Real Estate’s proven track record in developing transformative urban communities, the partnership will expand access to property investment and ownership for Kenyans while supporting wealth creation and contributing to the country’s broader economic development agenda.
