• Wealth experts, family business leaders and investors convened in Nairobi to discuss succession planning, cross-border opportunities and strategies for preserving wealth across generations.

Standard Chartered led Africa’s conversation on succession and cross-border wealth planning as the continent enters a new era of wealth creation and intergenerational wealth transfer.

The Nairobi Private Wealth Conference 2026, convened by Tarra Agility Africa in partnership with Standard Chartered, brought together affluent individuals, entrepreneurs, family business leaders and wealth advisers to explore how Africa’s growing wealth can be preserved, governed and transferred across generations amid an increasingly global investment landscape.

“For many years, the focus of wealth management was largely on accumulation. Today, the conversation has evolved. Successful individuals and families are now thinking beyond wealth creation to wealth continuity. They are asking how wealth can be preserved, how it can be transferred responsibly and how it can remain a force for progress across multiple generations,” said Edith Chumba, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking for Kenya and East Africa at Standard Chartered.

Africa is increasingly becoming part of a broader global phenomenon often referred to as the “Great Wealth Transfer.” Kenya alone is home to an estimated 6,800 to 7,200 US dollar millionaires, with approximately US$90 billion in combined assets under management (AUM) that are beginning to transition to the next generation.

“For many affluent African families, this transition will happen for the first time. The challenge is preparing the next generation to manage wealth successfully while transferring assets without transferring conflict,” Edith added.

The discussion comes at a pivotal moment for the continent. Africa is now home to more than 122,000 US dollar millionaires and approximately US$2.5 trillion in investable wealth. Its millionaire population is projected to grow by 65 per cent over the next decade, making Africa one of the fastest-growing wealth markets in the world.

According to Standard Chartered’s latest Family Office research, nearly three-quarters of family office professionals report increasing family tensions linked to market volatility, geopolitical uncertainty and generational change. Meanwhile, 90 per cent believe stronger succession planning could save families millions during future wealth transfers, while 87 per cent say better planning of cross-border assets can significantly improve long-term outcomes.

As African entrepreneurs continue expanding their businesses across borders and diversifying their investments globally, demand for sophisticated wealth planning and international advisory services continues to rise.

“Africa’s wealth ecosystem is maturing rapidly, but legacy planning and governance structures have not evolved at the same pace. As more families build businesses and assets across multiple jurisdictions, there is a growing need for integrated tax, legal and wealth planning frameworks that protect wealth and support the seamless transfer of assets across generations,” said Marjorie Kivuva, Partner, Private Wealth and Head of Legal at Tarra Agility Africa.

With a presence in more than 50 markets and dedicated wealth hubs in London, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong, Standard Chartered supports clients through international banking, investment advisory, lending solutions, wealth planning, family governance and cross-border wealth structuring, delivered through a connected global platform.