This list of the tallest buildings in Kenya ranks skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in Kenya by height. The vast majority of these skyscrapers are concentrated within the city of Nairobi, which serves as both the capital and the most populous urban center. In Nairobi, there are at least 20 completed skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that exceed a minimum architectural height of . The tallest building in the country is the 31-story Britam Tower, which rises to an architectural height of . Located in Nairobi, the skyscraper also stands as the second-tallest building in East Africa, surpassed only by the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The evolution of the Nairobi skyline initiated with the completion of the IPS Building in 1967, followed by the Hilton Nairobi in 1969, the NSSF Building in 1973, and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in 1974. Prior to the late 1960s, buildings within the city remained comparatively low-rise, until an initial commercial development surge accelerated vertical development. Between 1960 and 1980, the city experienced a significant expansion in skyscraper and high-rise engineering works, yielding a substantial portion of the municipal office inventory, including the Times Tower. Following this period of intense growth, a near 20-year stagnation in high-rise development ensued. However, a secondary, highly focused construction expansion commenced in the late 1990s and persists through 2026.
In 2015, Nairobi had 50 completed high-rise buildings, 6 projects under construction, and 6 proposed developments.
Regional urban centers across the nation are increasingly experiencing an acceleration in high-rise development. For example, the Moi University Pension Scheme Complex, subsequently renamed the Eldoret Daima Towers in Eldoret, reached completion in 2016 and stands at a maximum height of , ranking it among the tallest buildings outside the capital. Furthermore, the construction of major high-rise buildings persists in other metropolitan zones, including the coastal city of Mombasa.
Tallest buildings
This list ranks completed and topped-out buildings in Kenya that stand at least tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details, but does not include antenna masts. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. RankNameImageHeightFloorsYearCityNotesReferences1Britam Tower312017NairobiTallest building in Kenya since 2017. Located in Upper Hill. Tallest building completed in Kenya in the 2010s. Currently the tallest building in Kenya.2Global Trade Center Office Tower432021NairobiTallest building completed in Kenya in the 2020s. Located in Westlands. Formerly known as AVIC International African Headquarters.3UAP Old Mutual Tower332016NairobiTallest building in Kenya from 2016 to 2017. Located in Upper Hill.488 Nairobi Condominium Tower482026NairobiTallest residential building in Kenya. 5Global Trade Center Hotel Tower352021NairobiTallest hotel in Kenya. Second-tallest building within the GTC complex.6Times Tower382000NairobiTallest building in Kenya from 2000 to 2016. Tallest building completed in Kenya in the 2000s.7Prism Tower342018NairobiFormerly known as Kings Prism Tower. 8Le'Mac302017Nairobi9Bunge Tower262024NairobiTallest government building in Kenya. Formerly known as Parliament Tower.10Teleposta Towers271999NairobiTallest building in Kenya from 1999 to 2000. Tallest building completed in Kenya in the 1990s.11Global Trade Center Residential Tower 2332021Nairobi12CBK Pension Towers272022Nairobi13Kenya Commercial Bank Plaza242015Nairobi14=Global Trade Center Residential Tower 1312021Nairobi14=Global Trade Center Residential Tower 4312021Nairobi16Kenyatta International Convention Centre321974NairobiTallest building in Kenya from 1974 to 1999. Tallest building completed in Kenya in the 1970s.17Upper Hill Chambers262020Nairobi18Global Trade Center Residential Tower 3292021Nairobi19Social Security House281973NairobiTallest building in Kenya from 1973 to 1974. Formerly known as NSSF Building.20I&M Bank Tower182001Nairobi21KCB Plaza212014Nairobi22Eldoret Daima Towers262016EldoretTallest building in Kenya outside of Nairobi. Formerly known as MUPS Plaza.23Sanlam Tower202018Nairobi24Nyayo House271982NairobiTallest building completed in Kenya in the 1980s.25Cooperative Bank House251981Nairobi26Nation Centre171997Nairobi27National Bank House211976Nairobi28Ocean Seven252020MombasaTallest building in Mombasa.29Rahimtulla Tower181999Nairobi
Tallest buildings under construction NameHeightFloorsEstimated CompletionCityNotesNSSF Twin Tower A602028NairobiUpon completion, it will become the tallest building in both Kenya and East Africa.NSSF Twin Tower B352028Nairobi
Tallest buildings proposed NameHeightFloorsEstimated CompletionCityNotesKingdom Tower75–NairobiConsidered to be a stale proposal.Upper Hill Square66–NairobiConsidered to be a stale proposal.Century Tower70–NairobiConsidered to be a stale proposal.
Tallest buildings on hold NameHeightFloorsYear BeganYear HaltedCityNotesPalm Exotjca6120182020WatamuHalted in 2020 following the refusal of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to issue the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment license for the development.Pinnacle Tower 17020172018NairobiIndefinitely suspended in 2018 as a result of severe financial constraints alongside protracted legal disputes regarding the ownership and zoning regulations of the construction site.Pinnacle Tower 24520172018NairobiMontave402016–NairobiConstruction was originally scheduled to commence in late 2017; however, following a series of operational delays, the project was indefinitely halted.
Tallest buildings cancelled NameHeightFloorsYear CancelledCityNotesG47 Ugatuzi Tower (Original Proposal)662025NairobiDownsized to 34 floors.Hazina Trade Centre (Original Proposal)392017NairobiDownsized to 15 floors.Cytonn Towers352018NairobiUltimately cancelled after Nairobi City County and the local judiciary determined that the developers failed to adequately mitigate the severe traffic congestion and community disruptions the massive 35-story project would introduce to the Kilimani area.
See also
List of tallest buildings in Africa List of tallest structures in the world by country
References