A list of the 10 tallest buildings in Kenya – ranked in terms of actual height in metres.
1.) Britam Tower
Britam Tower, a 200-meter-tall office complex in Upper Hill, Nairobi, was officially opened to the public in July 2018, overtaking UAP Old Mutual Tower as the tallest building in Kenya.
The 31-storey tower, whose construction started early 2013 and ended in September 2017, boasts a very unique prismic design. At its widest, the building looks like a black pyramid with the top corner missing and from other views it becomes a more slender black prism.
In 2018, Britam Tower became the first building in Africa to be feted in the Emporis Skyscrapers Award’s 19-year history after it was named the 10th best skyscraper in the world.
2.) Nairobi GTC Office Tower
The topping out of Nairobi GTC Office Tower, the tallest of the six towers of the Sh40 billion Global Trade Centre, has added a new entrant in the list of Kenya’s tallest buildings.
The 184-metre, 43-storey office block is expected to be the Africa headquarters for Chinese firm Avic, which is seeking to set up its continental hub on a 7.5-acre piece of land in Westlands, Nairobi.
The tower, which has been under construction since July 2015, is set for completion by December.
3.) UAP Old Mutual Tower
Nestled in Upper Hill, 163-metre UAP Old Mutual Tower became the tallest building in Kenya when it opened in July 2016 after more than five years of construction.
The 33-storey building, which later lost the title to Britam Tower, offers some 300,000 square feet of Grade A office space in Nairobi’s fastest growing commercial district.
Standing at an altitude of 5,700 feet above sea level, UAP Old Mutual Tower is the highest point in Nairobi ahead of Rahimtulla Tower, which previously held the title.
4.) Nairobi GTC Hotel Tower
The topping out of Nairobi GTC Hotel Tower, the second tallest of the six towers of the Sh40 billion Global Trade Centre, has added a new participant in the list of Kenya’s tallest skyscrapers.
The 141-metre, 35-storey building is expected to host the star-studded US chain JW Marriott hotel that is operated by Marriott International.
The Nairobi GTC Hotel Tower, whose construction began in July 2015, is set for completion by December.
5.) Times Tower
Located on Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, Times Tower – also known as New Central Bank Tower – is a 140-metre skyscraper that is exclusively used by the Kenya Revenue Authority for its tax operations.
The 38-storey building that was completed in 2000 is designed to withstand powerful earthquakes, and is set on a concrete raft whose thickness ranges from 0.9 metres to 3.0 metres.
Times Tower has, among other facilities, a 7-storey banking complex and an 11-split storey car park.
6.) Prism Tower
The Kings Prism Tower is an iconic 133-metre tall skyscraper in Upper Hill, Nairobi. The 34-storey building that is creatively designed to appear as prisms stacked upon prisms was completed in 2018.
Whenever a ray of light passes through the prismatic facades of the building, a spectrum of vivid colours emerges – bringing to life the owner’s vision of illuminating the creative productivity of Nairobi residents.
The Kings Prism Tower is owned by Kings Developers, a wholly Kenyan-owned property development company that was founded as part of the Royal Group of Companies.
7.) Le’mac Towers
Le’mac Towers is a Sh3.5 billion Dubai-styled mixed-use development in the Westlands neighbourhood of Nairobi, off Waiyaki Way – targeting wealthy buyers and renters seeking housing in exclusive suburbs.
The 24-storey building, which was officially opened in 2019, offers offices from the 1st to 6th floor and high-end one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments from the 8th to 22nd floor.
Standing 126 metres tall, Le’mac Towers is currently the tallest residential building in Kenya.
One of the striking features of the Lemac Towers is a transparent glass floor skywalk located on the 24th floor of the building, which offers a stunning view of cars moving more than 100 metres below your feet.
8.) Parliament Tower
Construction of a new Parliament tower in Nairobi is almost coming to a close, following the topping out of the Sh5.8 billion office block that ranks among the tallest buildings in Kenya.
Developed by the Parliamentary Service Commission, the 26-floor office block that rises 125 metres into the sky sits on a one-acre plot between Continental House and County Hall, next to Parliament buildings.
The Parliament Tower, whose construction commenced in March 2014, is meant to house the expanded 418-member legislature. The project is being undertaken by China Jiangxi Construction Company.
9.) Telposta House
Telposta Towers, a 120-metre office block on Kenyatta Avenue, is the 9th tallest building in Kenya. On completion in 1999, it became the tallest tower in the country – snatching the title from the KICC.
The 27-storey building that was built by Laxmanbhai Construction houses Telkom Kenya and several government ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Information and Communication.
10). Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 1
The topping out of Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 1, the third tallest of the six towers of the Sh40 billion Global Trade Centre, has added a new player in the list of Kenya’s tallest structures.
The 116-metre, 33-storey residential apartment tower, whose construction commenced in July 2015, is scheduled for completion by end of the year.
Other buildings with a height of more than 100 metres include:
11). KCB Plaza
The KCB Plaza in the Upper Hill district of Nairobi is a 109-metre, 21-storey skyscraper that serves as the regional headquarters of the Kenya Commercial Bank.
Completed in 2014, the Sh2.1 billion office block adopts green architecture, in line with the global trend where developers use modern construction techniques to cut maintenance costs.
12). Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 2 & 3
Soaring 109 metres towards the sky, Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 2 and 3 – two 31-storey buildings that are part of the Global Trade Centre – are scheduled for completion by end of the year.
13). Kenyatta International Convention Centre
Previously known as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) is a 105-metre, 28-storey building that is located in the Nairobi City Square.
The skyscraper, which was completed in 1974, surpassed the NSSF Building as the tallest building in Kenya. It held this position for 25 years until it was overtaken by Telposta Tower.
KICC was designed by Kenyan architect David Mutiso in collaboration with Norwegian designer Karl Henrik Nøstvik. It has a rotating restaurant that turns 360° in 76 minutes.
14). Upper Hill Chambers
316 Upper Hill Chambers is a 104-metre, 26-storey tower located on 2nd Ngong Avenue in Upper Hill, about 2km from the Nairobi central business district.
Owned by Upper Hill Chambers Ltd., the newly-built tower boasts 26 floors comprising three basement parking floors; ground floor; mezzanine floor; five upper parking floors; and 15 Grade A office floors.
15). Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 4
The topping out of Nairobi GTC Residential Tower 4, the shortest of the six towers that form the Global Trade Centre, has added a new participant in the list of Kenya’s tallest residential buildings.
The 103-metre, 29-storey building that has been under construction since July 2015 is scheduled for completion by end of the year.
16). Social Security House
Located on Bishops Road in Community, Nairobi, Social Security House, also known as NSSF Building is a 103-metre, 28-storey tower that serves as the headquarters of the National Social Security Fund.
Social Security House was completed in 1973 – becoming the tallest building in Kenya ahead of the 1969-built Nairobi Hilton hotel. The latter had succeeded the IPS Building, which was built in 1967.
