Offices to Let in Nairobi: Westlands, Upper Hill, CBD

Which Nairobi district suits which business?

Nairobi's offices cluster in a handful of districts, and the tenant mix in each tells you who you will be next to.

Upper Hill grew when firms left a crowded CBD in the 1990s and early 2000s, according to Wikipedia. We have not sourced details for the CBD itself or for the Lang'ata Road corridor, so we do not describe them here. For the residential side of Westlands, see Apartments for Rent in Westlands, Nairobi.

What does prime office space cost in Nairobi?

The most reliable public benchmark we found is Knight Frank's half-year review, reported by Business Daily on 9 September 2026. It puts prime Grade A rent at USD 13 (about KES 1,684) per square metre a month in June 2026, flat since June 2022. The prime rental yield is 8.5%, unchanged since June 2023. Occupancy is 84.8%, which implies about 15% vacancy. The article says older, lower-grade buildings face more vacancy and more competition for tenants.

This is a benchmark for the top grade, not an average for the market. It is quoted per square metre, while many Nairobi landlords quote per square foot, so convert before comparing. We found no sourced district-by-district rent per square foot, and we would rather leave it out than guess. Ask each landlord for the rate, the floor area basis and what the service charge covers. With a flat rent and roughly 15% vacant, tenants of prime space have room to negotiate rent-free months or fit-out contributions.

How are rent, service charge and VAT quoted?

A quoted Nairobi office rent is normally a base rent per square foot or square metre, with a separate service charge for cleaning, security, lifts and common areas. Ask for each as a separate line, together with how the service charge is reviewed and capped.

On tax, commentary from the law firm Bowmans reports that renting commercial premises has been chargeable to VAT at 16% since 1 January 2008, while residential rent is exempt. If the landlord is VAT registered, expect VAT on both rent and service charge, and check whether you can recover it as input tax. We could not open the VAT Act itself, so confirm this with KRA or an accountant. Landlords of commercial property are also outside the residential rent tax in Landlord Tax in Kenya: Monthly Rental Income (MRI).

What protection does a business tenant have?

The Landlord and Tenant (Shops, Hotels and Catering Establishments) Act, Cap 301, protects tenants of shops, hotels and catering establishments. Offices are not named in the sections we read. Section 2 of the Act defines a controlled tenancy as one that is unwritten or written for five years or less, among other limbs. Under section 4, a landlord must serve notice in the prescribed form, which cannot take effect less than two months after the tenant receives it, and the tenant can refer the matter to the Business Premises Rent Tribunal.

Not every office is a shop, so whether Cap 301 covers your premises depends on its definitions and your use. Ask an advocate before you sign, and read our wider guide Tenant Rights in Kenya: Deposits, Notice, Eviction. This is information as of November 2026, not legal advice.

How does Nairobi compare with Kampala?

Ugandan firms expanding into Nairobi usually compare it with Kampala on rent, lease length and yield. Our Kampala guides are Office Space in Kampala: Rents, Supply and Yields and Commercial Lease Terms in Uganda. Nairobi's lease and tenancy rules are different, as the section above shows, and the tax treatment of rent differs, so do not assume Ugandan terms carry across the border. Currency also matters: Nairobi prime rents are often quoted in US dollars, while Kampala quotes vary by building.

What should I check on parking, fibre and power backup?

These items rarely appear in the headline rent but affect daily work.

• Parking: ask how many bays your floor area earns, and whether they are included or charged separately.
• Fibre: ask which providers are already in the building, and whether you may bring your own.
• Power backup: ask if a generator covers the whole floor or only common areas, and who pays for fuel.
• Service charge: ask what it covers and how it has changed over the last three years.
• Exit: check reinstatement duties, break clauses and deposit terms.

If you want a broker, use Estate Agents and Brokers in Nairobi: How to Choose One. Staff housing is covered in Studio and 1 Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Nairobi. Brokers in Kenya can join as a verified Kenyan broker, and the country overview is Kenya Land Ownership Guide for Ugandan Investors. Residential choices in Uganda are in Houses and Apartments for Rent in Uganda, and the Nairobi hub is Houses and Apartments for Rent in Nairobi by Estate.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Houses and Apartments for Rent in Nairobi by Estate
• Kenya Land Ownership Guide for Ugandan Investors
• Office Space in Kampala: Rents, Supply and Yields
• Tenant Rights in Kenya: Deposits, Notice, Eviction
• Estate Agents and Brokers in Nairobi: How to Choose One
• Studio and 1 Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Nairobi