World's Leading Co-Working Space Company To Open 8 More Kenyan Locations
The expansion reflects confidence in Kenya’s economic recovery and the growth of companies adopting flexible and platform work post-pandemic.
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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, is 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 enables 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," IWG said in a statement released on Thursday, July 10.
Scenes at the opening of IWG HQ in Mombasa. /PHOTO
“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:
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HQ The Brick Thindigua, Kiambu (opening August)
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HQ Purple Tower, Nairobi (September)
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HQ Fedha Plaza, Nairobi (October)
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HQ Nairobi Business Park, Nairobi (November)
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HQ I&M Tower, Nairobi (November)
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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 an 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.
Recent research by top academics has revealed that offering employees more flexibility in how and where they work delivers major benefits. These include improved work-life balance, significant cost savings, and better health outcomes. At the same time, businesses adopting hybrid work models also stand to gain from increased productivity to reduced operating expenses and a more motivated, efficient workforce.
A joint study by International Workplace Group (IWG) and workplace consultancy Arup found that hybrid working models can improve productivity by up to 11%. When supported by flexible workspaces, this approach could contribute up to KSh 74.9 trillion (equivalent to $566 billion) in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the U.S. economy each year by 2045, comparable to the entire GVA of Austin, Texas.
As more companies—big and small—shift to flexible and decentralised work models for the long term, the market is growing rapidly. It’s projected that by 2030, flexible workspaces will make up 30% of all commercial real estate. IWG, the global leader in flexible workspaces, enables its partners to tap into this booming industry with the backing of its decades of expertise. Businesses embracing hybrid working models also benefit from significantly reduced overheads, with average cost savings of KSh 1.45 million (around $11,000) per employee.
IWG operates the world’s largest platform for flexible workspaces, offering thousands of locations in over 120 countries. Members have seamless access to all these spaces and a wide range of business services through the IWG app.
With more than 1.2 billion white-collar workers globally and an estimated market opportunity exceeding KSh 264 trillion (about $2 trillion), the shift towards hybrid, decentralised work continues to accelerate. In 2024 alone, IWG welcomed 899 new partner locations and now serves 83% of Fortune 500 companies—a strong indicator of the model’s long-term potential and global appeal.
