Why wealthy Kenyans are buying paintings from the 1980s

Visitors admire artwork on January 20, 2026 during Heaven Can Wait Two exhibition at Circle art gallery in Nairobi.

Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group

Kenya’s wealthy art collectors are searching for paintings created and acquired during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Reason? Not solely to hang them on their walls but as an alternative investment.

Art, the latest Knight Frank Wealth & Investment Trends Report shows, is now the most-sought-after collectible asset by Kenya’s high-net-worth individuals, followed by watches and classic cars.

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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.