According to property developer–HassConsult, the shift comes as wellness real estate gains momentum globally Alvin Muchai, development project manager at HassConsult, Farhana Hassanali, Co-CEO and development director, Co-CEO and creative director Sakina Hassanali, Arvind Raghwani and Ramesh Raghwani, directors at Laxmanbhai, during the Enaki Forestside groundbreaking ceremony in Enaki Town, Nairobi/ HANDOUT Social connection is now driving residential property value in Kenya, with developers increasingly prioritising wellness, interaction and shared experiences alongside traditional location, size and amenities.
According to property developer–HassConsult, the shift comes as wellness real estate gains momentum globally. The Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 Global Wellness Communities and Real Estate report estimates the sector at Sh78.9 trillion ($548 billion), with the market projected to surpass Sh129 trillion ($1 trillion) by 2029.
The report identifies social infrastructure as an important component of wellness-focused developments. It notes that people with access to such infrastructure are more than three times as likely to say they have close friends—32 per cent compared with nine per cent among those without access.
The trend could have particular significance in Kenya, where digital lifestyles are increasingly reshaping how people interact. The report notes that Kenyans spend more time on social media than people in any other nation, with 20 per cent spending more than six hours a day online.
It also indicates that 26 per cent of Kenyan employees experience loneliness frequently. Property developers are now responding by creating residential environments designed to encourage face-to-face interaction and community participation. HassConsult, developer of Enaki Town, has expanded its wellness and community model through the introduction of Elevate by Hass, an experience hub offering year-round fitness, wellness, children's activities, entertainment, work, gastronomy and community programming.
“Traditional measures of residential value, location, size, specification, are no longer the full picture. When residents genuinely belong to where they live, it shows up commercially,” said Farhana Hassanali, Co-CEO and development director at HassConsult.