Britam's KidNest gives Kenyan parents a KSh1,000 starting point for investing in their children's future
Britam Asset Managers has launched KidNest, a children’s investment account that allows parents and guardians to begin building long-term wealth for their children with contributions from as little as KES 1,000.
The new investment product is aimed at encouraging Kenyan families to start investing for their children earlier, giving them more time to benefit from long-term growth and compounding under professional management.
The launch comes against the backdrop of persistent gaps in financial literacy and household financial resilience in Kenya. Data from the 2024 FinAccess Household Survey shows that the proportion of adults who save fell from 74% in 2021 to 68.1% in 2024.
The survey also found that only 18.3% of Kenyan adults were financially healthy, while 42.1% demonstrated high financial literacy based on their understanding of concepts such as inflation, interest rates and risk diversification.
At the same time, formal financial access improved marginally, rising from 83.7% in 2021 to 84.8% in 2024. The figures point to a growing need not only for access to financial products but also for stronger saving and investment habits.
Speaking at the launch in Nairobi, Britam Group Managing Director and CEO Tom Gitogo said starting early gives children an important advantage because investments have more time to grow.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s wealth creators and giving them an early start can help build the financial habits and foundations they will carry into adulthood,” said Gitogo.
Britam Asset Managers CEO and Principal Officer Barack Obatsa said the company wants investing to become a more familiar part of household financial planning.
According to Obatsa, KidNest extends the firm’s investment offering to families at an earlier stage, allowing parents and guardians to make a child’s first investment with KES 1,000.
The product also reflects a broader push by Britam Asset Managers to expand access to professionally managed investment solutions. The asset manager currently has more than KES 250 billion in assets under management.
For Kenyan families, the launch comes as concerns over saving, financial literacy and long-term financial preparedness remain significant. By starting investments earlier, families can potentially give their children a longer investment horizon while introducing them to the principles of consistency, risk diversification and compounding.
Britam said KidNest forms part of its wider ambition to strengthen Kenya’s investment culture and develop a new generation of investors who view wealth creation as a long-term activity rather than something to begin later in life.
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