Cledun Realtors recognised for opening land ownership to Kenyans abroad

The Thika-based real estate firm receives a Starbrands award for its focus on diaspora property investment in a market where remote transactions remain a persistent challenge

By John Kariuki

Cledun Realtors Ltd was on Friday evening recognised by Starbrands for its work in making land ownership in Kenya more accessible to Kenyans living and working abroad, a segment of the property market that has grown steadily in recent years as more diaspora investors seek to establish long-term financial roots back home.

The award, presented at the Starbrands East Africa Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony held in Nairobi, acknowledged the company’s efforts to address one of the more persistent frustrations facing diaspora property buyers: the difficulty of purchasing and securing land from thousands of kilometres away, in a market where concerns about transparency, documentation and remote transaction management remain real and well-founded.

For many Kenyans abroad, land ownership at home carries both practical and emotional weight. It represents a hedge against an uncertain return, a legacy for family members still in Kenya, and in many cases the first tangible step towards eventual resettlement. Yet the process of acquiring property remotely is not simple. Identifying trustworthy agents, verifying title documentation, conducting due diligence across county registries and managing the transfer process without being physically present all present obstacles that have historically discouraged or delayed investment.

Cledun Realtors has built its offering around reducing those barriers. The company operates across several counties, with projects in Malindi, Watamu, Thika, Makutano and Rumuruti, giving prospective buyers access to both coastal and inland markets at varying entry points. Its model includes flexible payment arrangements designed to allow clients to begin investing gradually, rather than waiting until they have accumulated the full purchase price — an approach that reflects an understanding of how diaspora income is typically structured, often in instalments sent home over time rather than in large lump sums.

The availability of individual freehold title deeds ready for transfer is a notable feature of the company’s offering. Freehold title remains the most straightforward form of land ownership in Kenya, giving the registered owner full and direct rights over the property without the complications that can accompany leasehold arrangements or undivided share transactions. For a diaspora buyer who cannot be present to oversee every stage of the process, clarity on title is not a minor administrative detail — it is the foundation of the entire investment.

The company also offers free site visits, providing clients or their appointed representatives with the opportunity to inspect plots in person before committing to a purchase. In a market where photographs and brochures can be misleading and where the gap between a property’s described and actual condition has occasionally been significant, access to a physical site visit represents meaningful consumer protection.

Cledun Realtors is based at Zuhura Place on the fourth floor in Thika and serves both diaspora clients and domestic buyers seeking land for residential development, future settlement or long-term investment purposes.

The Starbrands recognition places the company among a group of East African businesses acknowledged for their contribution to their respective markets. For Cledun Realtors, the distinction is specifically tied to its focus on the diaspora buyer — a customer whose needs, constraints and aspirations differ materially from those of the domestic market, and who has not always been well served by the Kenyan property industry.

That gap, it appears, is precisely where the company has chosen to plant its flag.

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