Nairobi, June 15 -- An increasing number of young Kenyan professionals are choosing to invest in apartments rather than land. The reason? Unlike land, which may remain as dead capital for years, apartments promise higher returns.

For decades, the older generation of Kenyans has mainly focused on one investment: land. Quite a number have been storing their wealth in the form of plots in city outskirts, intending to sell in tough times. But the younger generation has steered clear of land, and is buying apartments to either live in, or rent out.

Johnson Denge, a real estate expert, says that when it comes to young people, the decision to invest in land or apartments is usually driven by investment logic, taking into account factors such a...