Britam Towers: The Billion-Shilling Story Behind Nairobi’s Tallest Building

The building, which serves as the headquarters of Britam Holdings, was completed in 2017 after construction began in 2013.

With its distinctive tapered shape, the tower has become one of Nairobi’s most recognisable modern buildings.

Britam Tower houses the headquarters of Britam Holdings PLC, a financial services group offering insurance, asset management, investment and pension services. The building also provides office space for businesses and includes retail facilities and parking

Britam Tower was developed for British American Insurance Company, part of the Britam Group, a financial services group with interests in insurance, asset management and other financial services.

Britam says it signed the tower’s construction contract in 2013 and records the building as completed in 2017.

The Council on Vertical Urbanism lists British American Insurance Company Limited as the building’s owner and developer, and Britam Properties Limited as the project manager.

Located in Upper Hill, the tower provides commercial office space in a district that hosts financial institutions, hospitals and other major businesses.

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Britam tower brought together local and international expertise in architecture, engineering and construction.

GAPP Architects and Urban Designers worked with Triad Architects on the design. Laxmanbhai Construction was the main contractor, while Howard Humphreys (East Africa) Ltd handled structural and civil engineering work.

According to GAPP Architects, the tower’s design drew inspiration from Mount Kenya, and its prism-shaped form narrows and changes shape as it rises, giving it a distinctive profile against the city skyline.

The design was also intended to provide different floor layouts for tenants. The building features a six-storey entrance atrium and a separate parking structure connected to the main tower.

Its glass exterior and shading elements are designed to manage sunlight entering the offices while allowing natural light into the building.

The project was developed for British American Insurance Company and reportedly cost about KSh7 billion.

Construction of the building began in 2013 and ended in September 2017, with the building ready for occupation after completion.

The development includes more than the main office tower; it also features parking facilities, an entrance atrium, retail space, and supporting infrastructure.

Skyscraper Center records the building as having 31 floors above ground and three basement levels. Its database also lists approximately 1,002 parking spaces and eight elevators.

Also Read: The Story Behind Kenya’s First Building With a Commercial Rooftop Helipad: UAP Old Mutual Tower

According to Britam, the building received EDGE certification from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. The certification recognises buildings that meet specified standards for resource efficiency, including energy and water use and materials.

The tower incorporates measures intended to reduce resource consumption, including water-management systems, efficient lighting and a façade designed to limit heat entering the offices.

In October 2025, Britam announced a rooftop solar installation to supply part of the building’s electricity needs. The company said the initial system had a capacity of 250 kilowatt-peak (kWp), with a further 50 kWp installation planned.

Britam projected that the solar system would generate approximately 420,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and said it could meet half of the building’s energy needs.

The company also estimated that the tower’s existing environmental measures helped avoid nearly 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It projected that the solar installation would prevent a further 198 tonnes each year.

Britam Holdings PLC, which owns the Britam Group, is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and is owned by its shareholders.

According to Britam’s 2025 Integrated Report, the company’s largest shareholders as of December 31, 2025, included AfricInvest III-SPV-1 (17.55 per cent) and Standard Chartered Kenya Nominees Ltd A/C KE003819 (15.79 per cent).

Other major shareholders included EH Venture Capital Kenya Limited (9.18 per cent); two other Standard Chartered nominee accounts (9.14 per cent and 8.88 per cent); and EHL 2022 Limited (5.96 per cent).

Among the company’s largest individual shareholders were Jimnah Mwangi Mbaru (5.15 per cent) and Benson Irungu Wairegi (4.03 per cent).

At 200.1 metres, Britam Tower is listed by the Council on Vertical Urbanism’s Skyscraper Center as the tallest completed building in Nairobi and Kenya.

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Mary Wanjohi is a digital news correspondent at The Kenya Times driven by a deep commitment to truth, storytelling, and public service. With a background in Communication and Journalism, she has developed a strong foundation in news reporting, feature writing, and investigative research. Mary is passionate about uncovering stories that matter from community issues and social justice to politics and culture. She approaches every assignment with curiosity, integrity, and a dedication to accuracy. Her work reflects a belief that journalism is not just about reporting facts, but about giving voice to the voiceless and holding power to account. She can be reached at [email protected]

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