NCBA Bank has stepped up its push to make homeownership more accessible and sustainable by hosting its annual Property Investment Tour using fully electric buses and unveiling a new Solar Leasing Solution aimed at helping Kenyan households embrace clean, affordable energy.
The initiative places the bank’s property finance ecosystem at the center of the homeownership conversation, as owning a home is becoming increasingly difficult for many Kenyans.
Participants in the tour were taken across several residential and commercial developments in Nairobi, where they engaged directly with developers, explored financing options, and gained practical insights into the home-buying journey. This year’s experience placed a strong emphasis on sustainability, with the use of electric transport and the introduction of green energy financing solutions.
The tour comes against a challenging backdrop for Kenya’s housing sector. According to the 2025 Kenya Property Index report, the country faces an annual housing deficit of more than 200,000 units. Only about 50,000 homes are delivered each year against a demand of roughly 250,000 units.
At the same time, homeownership rates have continued to decline. National homeownership fell from 64 percent in 2013 to 61 percent in 2024. In urban areas, the drop has been even steeper, with ownership rates declining from 30 percent to 23 percent as rising property prices, stagnant incomes, and limited access to long-term financing push many households out of the market.
The situation is even more pronounced in Nairobi, where only 7.7 percent of households own the homes they live in, highlighting the scale of the affordability challenge facing urban families.
Through the Property Investment Tour, NCBA positioned itself as a solutions partner by helping potential homeowners understand the practical steps required to move from aspiration to ownership.
“Owning a home remains a major aspiration for most Kenyans,” said Dennis Njau, Group Director for Retail Banking at NCBA. “Our mission at NCBA is to remove barriers, guide customers with clarity, and provide innovative solutions that align with both financial and environmental sustainability.”
Njau noted that the bank’s decision to use electric buses during the tour was part of a broader commitment to sustainability.
“From our green energy financing to electric buses for this tour, we are walking the talk on sustainability while empowering more Kenyans to take confident steps toward homeownership,” he said.
Beyond the physical tour of developments, the bank used the platform to showcase a comprehensive range of property finance solutions designed to simplify every stage of the homeownership journey.
Under its home financing offering, customers can access mortgages for completed properties, loans for purchasing plots, construction financing, buy-and-build packages, mortgage transfers, and equity release options. The bank also highlighted its 105 percent Own-Your-Own-Home mortgage, which eliminates traditional upfront costs that often prevent many buyers from entering the property market.
To complement financing, NCBA is also offering protection and home improvement solutions that allow customers to secure and upgrade their properties after purchase. These include home insurance covering both the structure and household contents, home improvement loans for renovations or extensions, and insurance premium financing.
One of the standout innovations showcased during the tour was the bank’s Solar Leasing Solution, which allows homeowners to access solar energy systems without the heavy upfront investment typically required for installation.
The solution forms part of NCBA’s broader green financing strategy aimed at helping households reduce energy costs while supporting the transition to cleaner power sources.
By bringing together financing, protection, and sustainable energy solutions within a single ecosystem, NCBA is positioning itself as more than just a mortgage provider. Instead, the bank is seeking to become a full partner in the homeownership journey, offering customers the tools they need to secure, power, and improve their homes.
Through initiatives such as the Property Investment Tour, the bank is also focusing on education and exposure, helping prospective buyers understand the housing market and make informed financial decisions.
As housing demand continues to outstrip supply and urban homeownership becomes increasingly difficult, initiatives that combine access to financing with practical guidance and sustainable solutions may play a critical role in shaping Kenya’s future housing landscape.
Related Content: NCBA Unveils New 5-Year Strategy to Help Kenyan Corporations Tap Global Capital Opportunities