In a major shake-up of East Africa’s proptech landscape, BuyRentKenya, the country’s leading online real estate marketplace, has been acquired by Rushbox Ltd, an international technology group with a rapidly expanding footprint across the continent.
While the financial details of the transaction remain private, the acquisition marks a strategic pivot for both parties. For Rushbox, already a dominant player in Southern and Island African markets, the move secures a critical foothold in East Africa. For the seller, Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM), the divestiture signals a definitive sharpening of focus onto its core “Jobs and General Classifieds” verticals.
Rushbox Ltd is best known for operating digital real estate heavyweights such as Property.co.zw in Zimbabwe and PropertyCloud.mu in Mauritius. By adding BuyRentKenya to its portfolio, the group consolidates its presence as a pan-African proptech leader, now managing key platforms across three distinct regions.
“BuyRentKenya has built a strong, reputable platform in the Kenyan market, and we are excited to support the next phase of its growth,” said Garth Drummond, Director of Rushbox Ltd. “Our shared focus is to enhance innovation, improve user experience, and create even more opportunities for property seekers, agents, and developers across the region.”
The sale comes as ROAM (Ringier One Africa Media) restructures its operations to prioritize its recruitment and general classifieds businesses. The company is doubling down on The African Talent Company (TATC), its umbrella division for job platforms like BrighterMonday and Jobberman, effectively exiting the specialized real estate vertical in Kenya to focus on connecting talent with opportunity.
Despite the change in ownership, BuyRentKenya has assured its expansive user base of agents, developers, and property seekers that operations will continue without disruption.
Elizabeth Costabir, CEO of BuyRentKenya, emphasized that the acquisition would bring fresh technical capabilities to the platform while maintaining its local reliability.
“We have always focused on connecting Kenyans to reliable, high-quality property options, and joining forces with Rushbox strengthens that commitment,” Costabir said. “Their experience in digital real estate platforms brings fresh energy and capability that will help us serve our users even better.”
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