Which is the tallest building in Kenya? The top 10 list
Kenya is home to some of the most remarkable skyscrapers in Africa. is considered the Other competitors and are remarkable landmarks, reshaping Nairobi’s skyline. These skyscrapers serve various purposes, including commercial offices, residential apartments, and government institutions. spoke exclusively with Luke Carter, a distinguished registered architect and director at IN 5 Architects, to gain expert insight into the features that make tall buildings stand out beyond their height.

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The ranking of the tallest buildings in Kenya was based on verified architectural and structural height measurements. To ensure accuracy, we relied on insights from reputable sources such as Construction Kenya and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat – CTBUH. Criteria considered include total height in meters, number of floors and year of completion.

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The rapid growth of Kenya’s real estate sector has led to the construction of towering skyscrapers in the city of Nairobi. These skyscrapers show how rapidly the country’s urban sector is growing. The majority of these buildings serve as commercial offices, others are hotels, and some residential places for people living within Nairobi. This list of the top 10 highest buildings will give you insights into the country’s most iconic structures.

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The Britam Tower in Nairobi is owned by British-American Investments Company (Britam). It is one of the tallest skyscrapers in Nairobi rising above ground, with
The building's distinctive prismatic design begins as an equal square footprint with four sides and culminates with a two-sided roof and a 60-meter (197-foot) pole that houses three helical wind turbines.

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The Global Trade Centre (GTC) Office Tower was . It is the second tallest building in Kenya. The building rises above ground and has .
The tower's front façade faces Waiyaki Way and the Nairobi Expressway. It serves as a high-end commercial space and also features a residential block, a luxury hotel, and a shopping mall.

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The UAP Old Mutual Tower was . It was once Kenya’s tallest building before being overtaken by Britam Tower and GTC. The building is located in Upper Hill, it is a commercial skyscraper housing corporate offices.
The tower is owned by UAP Old Mutual Group. This is a financial services conglomerate headquartered in Kenya. It has rentable space that measures . When the building opened for business on , it was 50% full.

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The 88 Nairobi is the tallest residential building in Africa, boasting luxurious amenities and breathtaking views. The tower features stylish apartments, penthouses, and state-of-the-art facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, and high-end security systems.
The iconic tower stands at a height of with . The visionary mastermind behind this iconic building is Jonathan Jackson. The skyscraper consists of fully serviced apartments designed for professionals, expatriates, and investors.

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Times Tower is also known as the New Central Bank Tower. It was . The tower has along with a 7-storey banking complex and an 11-split-storey car park. It is also served by .
The structure was built to withstand earthquakes. It is supported by a concrete raft that ranges in thickness from . The skyscraper houses the headquarters of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

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The Prism Tower is located in Upper Hill. It is a building used primarily for office spaces and stands out due to its vibrant architectural aesthetics. Its astounding architectural design appears as a prism stacked upon one another.
Prism Tower was and it rises above the ground. It was developed by Kings Developers Ltd. with A+I Design serving as its architect. It incorporates environmental and work-friendly features such as a rainwater harvesting system and a natural lighting system.

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The Bunge Tower is located at Harambee Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. It is situated directly across parliament buildings, has a tunnel and with a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities for MPs and staff. The tower was initiated by the Parliamentary Service Commission in 2010 to provide sufficient office space for the MPs.
Its office block includes four basement levels, a ground floor, and an access building within the main structures. Initially set for completion in January 2018 at Sh5.89 billion, the Bunge Tower project faced delays due to legal disputes.

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The Teleposta Towers was completed in the late 1990s and is one of Nairobi’s landmark buildings. It is in height and has . It houses Telkom Kenya Kenya's Ministry of Information and Communications, and Kenya's Ministry of Trade. The tower was designed by Anthony Gleeson and constructed by Laxmanbhai Construction.

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The construction of the Kenya Commercial Bank Plaza (KCB Plaza) began in December 2010 and the building was . The skyscraper is located in Upper Hill, approximately 2.5 kilometres from the central business district of Nairobi.
The plaza has twenty-one storeys consisting of approximately . It has enough parking for about four hundred and fifty automobiles. The main constructor of the tower was China Wu Yi Company Limited and ARUP was the environmental design engineer.

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The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was formerly known as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. It is a story building located in the City Square of Nairobi, Kenya. The tower consists of, including a revolving restaurant which offers panoramic views of the city.
It has the which is the largest conference chamber of its kind in East Africa. It caters for large international meetings, exhibitions and grand balls, and has a capacity of It has a paved courtyard surrounding the statue of Kenyatta. There are numerous flag poles and balconies in the courtyard fashioned to host promotional identities.
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Luke Carter, a distinguished registered architect and director at IN 5 Architects, opened up on the features that make tall buildings stand out beyond their height, as he also shed light on the architectural, engineering, and urban planning principles that shape high-rise developments.
I think the typical definition of a building's height is determined by the extent (vertically) of the usable spaces within the building to the top of the last space's roof apex. This would usually preclude any additional features such as antennae, billboards and or other non-integrated components of the building structure.
Unfortunately, the answer is a little duller than you might anticipate as building height, scale, size and coverage are more a factor of the specific location, plot size and surroundings with regards to permissible zoning guidelines developed by city planners at the various municipal planning departments across the country. Ground conditions, proximity to water bodies and topography are other considerations to consider amongst several others.
Q: How does the intended use of a skyscraper—whether for commercial, residential, or mixed purposes— and location affect its design and overall height?
Land value is a key factor in building height. If the land value is high, then the developer is more inclined to demand an increased return on investment for their efforts. Location, proximity to other taller buildings and demand for similar space (commercial, retail, residential or mixed) are key drivers in determining to capacity permitted and possible within the defined plot area and wider urban surroundings.
Q: What, in your view, defines a well-designed tall building? Not just in terms of height, but also in terms of sustainability, aesthetics, and its contribution to the skyline?
A well-designed tall building should add visual interest to the skyline without dominating it unnecessarily. It should resonate with its cultural, historical, and urban context, incorporating proportional hierarchy as the building ascends and providing well-provisioned and engaging public spaces at ground level. Smart material choices, low-carbon construction techniques and sustainable technologies employed within a flexible building design should provide longevity to such a prominent structure.
Final word
The real estate and architectural landscape in Kenya continues to grow every day. , The tallest buildings in Kenya are reshaping the country's skyline enhancing its urban growth. These buildings are all located in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. The Nairobi GTC Office Tower currently holds the record for the tallest completed building in Kenya.
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Throughout history, nations have changed their flags to symbolise the people's resilience who identify with the standard. They serve as a token of pride, especially when their citizens are in an international setting. Read on to discover the countries with the most appealing flags today.
Source: TUKO.co.ke