Mi Vida Homes Limited has announced the signing of a share purchase agreement for a management-led buyout of the business from Actis, the global sustainable infrastructure investor. The transaction, whose valuation has not been disclosed, is subject to regulatory approval.
The deal marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Mi Vida, which was established in 2018 as a green, affordable, and mid-market housing developer. It underscores the potential for institutional residential developers in Africa to be successfully incubated, scaled, and developed into investment-grade platforms capable of attracting both local and global capital.
Samuel Kariuki, Chief Executive Officer of Mi Vida Homes, described the transaction as a landmark achievement for the company and the broader housing sector.
“This is the first such transaction involving a residential development platform in our market. This milestone marks an important chapter in Mi Vida’s journey and reinforces the viability of institutional home builders in Africa,” said Mr Kariuki. “It demonstrates that institutional home builders can be nurtured to scale in Africa, operating at high standards of ESG and financial discipline.”
He added that the company’s founding ambition has been to deliver high-quality, sustainable housing solutions tailored to local needs while maintaining the highest governance and financial standards.
“Today, with a strong balance sheet, a diversified capital base, and a healthy pipeline of projects, we believe we are well positioned to scale further and deepen our impact as we lead the company into its next phase. We are grateful for Actis’ invaluable role in building a solid investment-grade platform anchored on sustainability and strong governance,” Mr Kariuki said.
Louis Deppe, Partner at Actis, said the transaction demonstrates the growing maturity and depth of opportunity within Africa’s real estate sector.
“We believe this transaction highlights the depth of opportunity for long-term capital formation in African real estate and validates the strength of a model where global investors incubate, institutionalise, and ultimately transition platforms to local ownership,” said Mr Deppe. “The outcome at Mi Vida demonstrates both the scalability and invest-ability of Africa’s residential sector, underpinned by robust demand fundamentals and increasing depth in local capital markets.”
He added that Africa continues to show a strong growth trajectory, with disciplined capital allocation, sound governance, and institutional-grade operating models driving attractive, risk-adjusted returns for investors.
Ravi Rughani, Principal at Actis, expressed pride in the partnership with Mi Vida, describing the buyout as a validation of their shared vision since inception.
“This transaction is not only a validation of the vision we set out to achieve in 2018, but also a clear demonstration of the institutionalisation of Africa’s residential real estate sector,” said Mr Rughani. “Over the past six years, Mi Vida has been transformed into a platform with investment-grade governance, a robust balance sheet, and a well-diversified funding base, all while addressing urgent housing demand and delivering strong USD returns to our investors.”
He added that the transition of ownership to the management team reflects Actis’ philosophy of building sustainable and scalable businesses that deliver long-term value while addressing critical local needs.
Mi Vida’s management-led buyout marks a new chapter for the company as it seeks to expand its footprint in affordable and mid-market housing, continuing to deliver on its mission of creating sustainable communities and high-quality homes across Kenya and beyond.
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