Nairobi, Aug. 17 -- Driving into Membley from the Thika Superhighway, the transformation is hard to miss. What was once a patchwork of empty parcels has become a dense residential hub, with apartment blocks climbing skyward and hardware shops lining the roads to serve a thriving construction industry.

Unlike large gated developments where a single developer builds uniform houses, Membley has grown organically. Individual buyers acquired plots and built homes to their preferences, while in some corners, groups of homeowners pooled resources to create small gated courts.

Job Kimani, a real estate agent at Zani Property Limited, says demand remains strong even as land becomes scarce.

"The demand for property in Membley is very high. Peopl...