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New entrant wins award in delicate property segment: Here’s why
Sponsored by Sydia Realty
Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome (right) presents the Young Property Leader (Under 35) award to Sydia Mwenda of Sydia Realty.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
By Evans Ongwae
Powered by a community of more than 160,000 followers, Syidia Mwenda, 24, and her firm, Sydia Realty, are going places. This reality emerged at the Top Property Awards 2025, where Sydia Realty and its founder shone.
Ms Mwenda emerged Young Property Leader (Under 35), whereas her realty firm was declared Top Property Influencer of the Year.
She attributes the win to two things: a loyal community and a hard-working team.
Ms Mwenda explains: “Our community of 165,000 plus followers has trusted us with their questions, their investments, and their dreams. Their engagement, feedback, and belief in our work drive everything we do.”
She adds: “And my team, they show up every day to coordinate complex transactions, solve client concerns, and ensure no one feels alone in their investment journey. This recognition belongs to them.
For me: it’s humbling. I’m 24, three years into building Sydia, and I’m still learning every day. These awards are encouragement, not the finish line.”
According to the young entrepreneur, the awards mean a lot.
For the company: “Validation that what we’re building matters, especially for diaspora investors who’ve felt underserved.”
For the team: “Motivation. They carry most of the weight behind the scenes, and this recognition belongs to them.”
And for current clients? “Reassurance. Many trusted us before we had any award. This confirms they chose well. For prospective clients: A signal that Sydia is a safe, credible partner in Nairobi real estate.”
Sydia specialises in off-plan residential development sales, helping both local and diaspora investors navigate Nairobi’s off-plan property market with clarity and confidence.
Why did Ms Mwenda venture into this business?
She says she realised that the market did not focus on educating investors.
Says Ms Mwenda: “Everyone was selling, but not many were educating. I wanted to use my platform to demystify the market.
That’s why her firm launched The Sydia Podcast – ‘What Experts Have to Say.’
Explains Ms Mwenda: “We strive to bring voices in the industry - CEOs, lawyers, developers, policymakers, interior designers, financiers, and property managers, among others, to share insights that help buyers invest wisely.”
She started the firm in March 2022 because, “I fell in love with off-plan. It makes homeownership accessible through staggered payments over two to three years. But only if done right. I wanted to help people do it right.”
Ms Mwenda had also noticed a trust gap. “Many investors have been burned before: projects delayed, deposits lost, scammed by friends or relatives. I wanted to become the trusted bridge: showing people what to buy, and what to avoid.”
Sydia’s services range from property selection to due-diligence guidance, investor setup, mortgage connections, construction updates, interior design and property management. “We support clients throughout the entire journey - not just at the sale,” says Ms Mwenda.
Sydia leverages technology. From Virtual tours, CRM tools, AI Automation, the firm makes investing from anywhere on the globe seamless.
Sydia focuses on five key neighbourhoods: Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington, Westlands, and Riverside, working only with vetted developers who consistently deliver.
The realty firm has helped 250+ investors locally and abroad.
Going forward, Ms Mwenda says she will show up daily with consistency, excellence, and humility.
She vows:
I’ll keep learning. Real estate is evolving fast. I’m constantly seeking knowledge, off-plan trends, emerging topics, PropTech, and more.
I’m also actively seeking seasoned mentors, industry leaders with 10+ years of experience. Their guidance would mean the world to me.
