As Kenya’s business landscape undergoes a post-pandemic reset, International Workplace Group, the world’s largest platform for work, with brands including Spaces, Regus and HQ, will double its footprint in the country by the end of 2025, with eight new workspace centres planned across Nairobi, Kiambu, and Mombasa.
The expansion comes amid rising demand for flexible working models, not only in Kenya’s capital but in regional commercial hubs like Mombasa, where IWG recently launched a new HQ location at City Mall, Nyali. The 1,000-square-metre centre includes private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces. Located just off Malindi Road (B8), it offers on-site parking, sits 35 minutes from Moi International Airport, and is near Nyali Golf & Country Club. Businesses can also access IWG’s Design Your Own Office service to fully customise their space.
While the flexible workspace industry is not new to the Kenyan market, IWG’s strategy marks a distinct shift in scale with rapid expansion made possible by partnering with Kenyan property owners and investors. The company enabling local landlords to pivot towards flexible workspace models that are proving more resilient and profitable in the post-COVID real estate climate with superior returns offered.
“We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Kenya with the recent opening of HQ Nyali City Mall, Mombasa, and the new locations planned for Nairobi and Kiambu,” said Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder, IWG. He added, “Kenya is a dynamic business hub, and the demand for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to grow. Our model allows businesses to scale up or down cost-effectively, while enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity.”
IWG currently operates 12 centres in Kenya and aims to grow to 20 by year’s end. This includes new locations at:
HQ The Brick Thindigua, Kiambu (opening August)
HQ Purple Tower, Nairobi (September)
HQ Fedha Plaza, Nairobi (October)
HQ Nairobi Business Park, Nairobi (November)
HQ I&M Tower, Nairobi (November)
Regus 1 Park Avenue, Nairobi (November)
Crucially, this growth is being powered by local partnerships that signal a changing tide in Kenya’s property sector.
“Partnering with IWG has been a game-changer for us,” said Bhupesh Rana, Managing Director of Pramukh Tower Limited, which is hosting one of the upcoming Nairobi centres. He added, “Since joining their global workspace network, we’ve seen significant returns, not just in revenue but in tenant quality and long-term growth. Through our collaboration, we’ve been able to tap into a global ecosystem while delivering locally relevant solutions that are transforming how, where, and when people work. We’re now considering IWG spaces in other buildings. The momentum is real, and we are excited to be part of this transformative journey.“
In Mombasa, the City Mall location is a result of collaboration with Africa Workspace Hub Limited, whose Managing Director, Anish Doshi, sees the partnership as a pivotal moment for coastal Kenya.
“We are excited to open a HQ centre at City Mall, Mombasa. City Mall is the premier shopping mall in Mombasa and a pioneer on multiple fronts. The mall offers a wide variety with respect to shopping, dining, entertainment, and services, and our partnership with IWG further adds options for those clients wishing to have office space in the mall, from a single desk to a whole office, a much-needed service. This makes the mall even more competitive and responsive to the market, only further enhancing City Mall as the place to be in Mombasa,” said Doshi. She added, “Through this partnership, we are opening Mombasa and specifically the Nyali area, to the new age of serviced offices. We welcome the global clientele of IWG to Mombasa and to City Mall.”
This approach aligns with wider shifts in Kenya’s economy. Nairobi is cementing its status as an East African tech and fintech powerhouse, while Mombasa is diversifying its economy beyond tourism. The flexible workspace model offers a future-facing solution for both cities, especially as companies seek cost-efficient ways to grow and retain top talent.
Research by leading academics has found that greater flexibility over how and where employees work offers a multitude of benefits for workers, including enhanced work-life balance, financial savings and health benefits. Employers also reap the rewards of hybrid models through increased firm productivity, cost savings and a more efficient, engaged workforce. In fact, recent research by IWG and workplace consultancy Arup found that hybrid working can boost productivity by 11%.
Facilitated by flexible workspaces, hybrid working could add up to $566 billion in GVA to the US economy annually by 2045 – the equivalent GVA of Austin, Texas[i].
With explosive market growth as companies of all sizes adopt more flexible and decentralised models for the long-term, it is predicted that 30% of all commercial real estate will be flexible workspace by 2030. With International Workplace Group, partners are able to capitalise on this fast-growing sector, while being supported by International Workplace Group’s unparalleled experience. Hybrid working offers companies a significantly lower cost base with an average saving of $11,000 per employee[ii].
International Workplace Group is the leading global platform for work – featuring thousands of locations in more than 120 countries with members able to access all the locations and business services via the IWG app.
As the ongoing shift towards more flexible, decentralised and hybrid models of work working accelerates, the potential for further growth is exponential with an estimated 1.2 billion white collar workers globally and a total addressable market of more than $2 trillion. In 2024, International Workplace Group welcomed 899 new partner locations and counts 83 per cent of Fortune 500 companies among its customer base.
