Fusion Group eyes continental expansion as cities reshape property demand

Kenyan private equity and real estate investment firm Fusion Group is entering its next growth phase after two decades in East Africa, with plans to expand its footprint and position itself in Africa's rapidly changing urban landscape as it marks its 20th anniversary.

Its flagship project is the proposed Oak Grove City in Juja, Kiambu County, where Fusion Estates plans to develop about 600 homes in the first phase on 150 acres. The development is expected to incorporate roads, water reticulation, electricity, street lighting and community amenities, and sits at the master-planning, infrastructure and approval stage, with the company working with the Kiambu County government to align it with the county's urban planning framework.

"Twenty years allows us to reflect on the impact we have created, but more importantly, to think about the responsibility that comes with the next twenty," said Daniel Kamau, chief executive officer of Fusion Group. "Africa is changing rapidly. Our populations are growing, our cities are expanding and millions of people will need decent homes, infrastructure and places to build their lives."

The strategy is being pursued against a widening continental gap. UN-Habitat estimates Africa's urban population will reach about 1.4 billion by 2050 and puts the continent's housing deficit at more than 51 million units, potentially rising to 130 million by 2030 without accelerated investment. The African Development Bank estimates African cities are expanding at an average annual rate of about 3.5 per cent, almost twice the global average, and says the continent's real estate sector could reach about $332.3 billion by 2033.

Kenya mirrors that pressure: the World Bank estimates the country's housing deficit at more than two million units, with demand growing by about 250,000 households annually. Knight Frank's 2026/27 Africa report puts Nairobi's prime office occupancy at 80.3 per cent in 2025, with demand shifting towards quality office space, community-focused retail, integrated residential developments and logistics facilities.

Fusion says it has delivered more than 10 residential projects over the past eight years while investing in and managing commercial, residential and mixed-use assets across East Africa. Its expansion marks a shift from developing individual properties towards larger urban ecosystems that combine housing, infrastructure, investment and community amenities.