Nairobi, June 16 -- Private property developers are redirecting investments towards commercial buildings as the government ramps up spending on affordable housing, reshaping Nairobi's construction landscape and altering the traditional dominance of residential developments.

Commercial projects target business activities such as warehouses, offices, and retail outlets.

Data from Nairobi City County, published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), shows the value of approved non-residential building plans rose 44.4 percent to Sh21.37 billion in the first three months of 2026 from Sh14.8 billion a year earlier.

The jump in commercial projects helped offset a slowdown in residential developments, whose approved value fell 10.3...