Why wealthy Kenyans are buying paintings from the 1980s

Wealthy Kenyan art collectors are seeking paintings created and acquired in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s as an alternative investment. The Knight Frank Wealth & Investment Trends 2026 report ranks art as the most sought-after collectible asset among Kenya's high-net-worth individuals, ahead of watches and classic cars. Prices have surged sharply: paintings that once sold for between 7,000 and 10,000 Kenyan shillings now fetch 800,000 to over 1 million shillings at auction. Veteran artist and curator Michael Soi says demand centers on manageable-sized paintings and sculptures.