Kenya Re Managing Director, Dr Hillary Wachinga./HANDOUTKenya Reinsurance Corporation is stepping up efforts to make its properties more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable, with plans underway to introduce solar energy solutions across its buildings.
The corporation’s Managing Director, Dr Hillary Wachinga, said the planned solar investment is part of a broader strategy to improve energy efficiency while supporting Kenya Re’s commitment to a cleaner and greener environment.
Wachinga spoke during a tenant appreciation cocktail hosted by Kenya Re, which has a real estate property portfolio valued at Sh14 billion.
The event provided an opportunity for the corporation to engage tenants as it continues with the refurbishment and modernisation of its properties.
Kenya Re Managing Director, Dr Hillary Wachinga
The solar plans form part of several measures being implemented by Kenya Re to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its buildings.
The corporation is also installing motion-sensor lighting systems to reduce energy consumption by limiting unnecessary use of electricity. In addition, it is introducing water-saving technologies, including push and sensor taps, to reduce water wastage.
Kenya Re is also undertaking improvements aimed at enhancing security and convenience for occupants. Among the measures is the rollout of an integrated security management system across its properties.
Wachinga said the various investments demonstrate Kenya Re’s intention to ensure that its properties remain commercially viable while meeting the changing environmental and operational needs of tenants.
The corporation owns Reinsurance Plaza, Anniversary Towers and Kenya Re Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Some of the country’s key public institutions are housed at Anniversary Towers, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Office of the Auditor General and the Higher Education Loans Board.
The scale of Kenya Re’s property portfolio means that improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation and security will have a direct impact on a wide range of organisations operating from its buildings.
The tenant engagement also provided an opportunity for occupants to raise concerns and propose areas where services and facilities could be improved.
Kenya Re General Manager of Property and Investments Nicodemus Gikone said the feedback from tenants would help the corporation identify areas that required attention and make the necessary improvements.
The approach signals a broader shift in Kenya Re’s property management strategy, with the corporation seeking to combine investment returns with sustainability and improved tenant experience.
As the planned solar rollout and other refurbishment measures take shape, Kenya Re is positioning its properties to be more efficient, secure and environmentally responsible.
For the corporation, the goal is to ensure that its Sh14 billion property portfolio remains not only a valuable commercial investment but also capable of meeting the needs of tenants and the environmental demands of the future.
