Source: SpyGhana 
Kenyan women are investing in real estate as many become economically empowered and the country's constitution offers them support to own property.

The women are buying houses and land, activities that were initially dominated by men, who would later pass the properties mainly to their sons, denying their daughters and wives chance to own them.
But the Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010 offers women in the East African nation equal rights with men when it comes to owning property.

However, that is not the main driver behind an increasing number of women investing in real estate in Kenya.

Economic empowerment as a result of better jobs and savings groups is giving East African nation's women power to invest in land and houses.

The women are buying the properties in groups and as well as individuals. In groups, famously known as chama, the women contribute money and buy huge pieces of land which they sell at a higher value or share amongst themselves.

"I am now a proud owner of a quarter acre in Nairobi. I never knew that one day I would own a piece of land in the city. It was a distant dream but through our group I have now actualised it," Cynthia Otiato, a banker in Nairobi, said late on Monday.

Otiato belongs to Uzima Women Group that has been in operation for five years.

"We have been contributing 27 U.S. dollars every month since we started. It is this money that we used to buy 20 acres in Kajiado County, which we have sub-divided amongst ourselves," said an excited Otiato, who is married with two children.

The group plans to build houses on the pieces of land or sell at a higher price for profit.

"Some members favour selling the land but a majority want us to build houses because real estate is growing fast and has better returns on investment. My husband supports all that I am doing," she said.

Away from Nairobi in Kakamega, Beatrice Nelima owns half an acre that she bought over six months ago.

"My desire in life has always been to own land and I actualised that dream towards the end of last year. I never knew that I would have a title deed in my name," said Nelima.

A survey by research firm Consumer Insight released last month notes that owning property tops the list of many wishes by Kenyan women.

"Thirty seven percent placed house ownership as their top wish with those aged 26 to 37 leading the way. Others want to own land, " said the survey, adding that, dream wedding, going for holiday and successful marriage are following in the distant.

Antony Kuyo of Avent Properties, a real estate consultancy firm in Nairobi, acknowledged that as many women are buying property as men.

"I have several clients and a good number of them are women. At least four own a block of apartments while others bungalows and maisonettes. Well, while some have inherited the properties from their husband, others have bought or build them," she said.

Besides the constitution and economic empowerment, Kuyo noted desire to be independent and high level of education is another reason Kenyan women are investing in real estate.

"Women know they cannot depend on men as it used to be in the past. They want to stand on their own and have a secure future for their children. Real estate offers them what they want," she said. Enditem

• Kenya