NAIROBI, Kenya – Britam Asset Managers (BAM) has launched KidNest, a children’s investment account designed to help parents and guardians start building long-term wealth for children from an early age.
The new investment product targets children and young people aged 0 to 25 years, allowing families to start investing with as little as Sh1,000 and make additional contributions from Sh100.
Britam launched KidNest as part of efforts to encourage a culture of early investing and address declining savings rates in Kenya.
The product allows parents and guardians to build funds gradually for future financial needs, including education, healthcare and entrepreneurial opportunities.
KidNest gives families an opportunity to introduce children to investing before they begin earning an income.
Britam Group Managing Director and CEO Tom Gitogo said the product forms part of a broader approach to financial planning that covers different stages of an individual’s financial life.
“We think of it as a life cycle. Financial planning is a life cycle covering protection, accumulation, investment, preservation and estate planning,” Gitogo said.
He also emphasised the advantage of starting investments early, particularly because returns can accumulate over a longer period.
“For an investor, time is the greatest advantage money cannot buy,” he said.
The company said the product responds to the need for Kenyan families to move beyond conventional saving and begin investing earlier. KidNest operates as a low-risk, open-ended investment vehicle, allowing families to contribute without a strict lock-in period.
Parents and guardians can open an account for a child with an initial investment of Sh1,000. They can then make additional contributions starting from Sh100, allowing families to invest according to their financial ability rather than committing to a fixed monthly amount. The fund also offers daily compounded interest, allowing returns to accumulate over time.
Britam has designed the product to accommodate changing financial habits, particularly among younger generations who may prefer flexible and irregular contributions to traditional fixed investment commitments.
The structure means parents can add money whenever they have funds available while maintaining a long-term investment objective for the child.
Britam has also incorporated digital channels into KidNest to make it easier for families to manage their investments. Customers can access and manage their portfolios through the MyBritam App. The company also provides access through the USSD code *778#, allowing customers without smartphones or consistent internet access to interact with the service.
Parents and guardians can additionally access Britam through WhatsApp by sending “Hi” to 0705100100. The digital options are intended to make investment more accessible and convenient for families across Kenya.
Britam said KidNest is designed not only to help families accumulate money for children but also to encourage financial literacy from an early age.
The company acknowledged that although many Kenyan families save for their children’s future, starting investments early remains uncommon.
“While many Kenyan families save for their children’s future, investing early enough is still not common. KidNest is designed to help bridge that gap,” Britam said in its corporate statement.
The company also linked the product to the development of financial habits among children and young people.
“Financial literacy isn’t only about knowing what to do with money. It’s also about building the habits early,” Britam said.
“And when we start early, we don’t just invest in children’s futures. We invest in the future of investing in Kenya.”
The company believes introducing investment concepts early can help children develop a better understanding of money and long-term financial planning.
KidNest allows families to build funds for expenses that children may face as they grow.
Parents or legal guardians seeking to open an account for a minor must provide identification and documentation for both themselves and the child.
The requirements include a valid National ID or passport, a KRA PIN certificate, the child’s birth certificate and valid bank account details for linking.
The documentation allows Britam to establish the relationship between the child and the parent or legal guardian while meeting account-opening requirements.
