Shadrack Ogolla is just weeks away from moving into his newly built house in the outskirts of Nairobi. He is in his mid-thirties.
The employee of Azuri Technologies told Mwanahabari.co.ke that he is currently putting final touches on the roof before moving in with his family.
“I was inspired to own a home by my late dad. My father built his home in Ngong back in the day, and it opened my eyes. In fact, it was his wish that before he dies we also have homes.
“A home is a basic need. It would be prudent to have one if you can… and the earlier you do it the better. As young people, we need to sort our immediate basic needs – and a house is one of them…. Remember that even if you don’t have a job, but you have a roof on your head, you can survive,” said Ogolla.
Roof over my head
David Kamau is 38 years old – and like Ogolla, he too already has a roof over his head.
“I used to pay Ksh38,000 per month eight months ago as rent while residing in a rental house in one of the estates in Nairobi. I have saved roughly Ksh300,000 since moving here in 2020.
“If you ask me today – I don’t have that money on me – but either way If I was still living in that house I would have parted ways with that money towards rent,” said David who is an accountant.
According to the 2019 population and census results, out of 47.6 million Kenyans, 7,379,485 Kenyans own their homes. This is 15.4 percent of the total population.
The number of Kenyans paying rent in Nairobi stood at 1,354,882.
Ogolla and David are among those who have now moved out of this bracket.
Interesting stories
What makes their stories interesting – and worth telling – is the fact that they are still youths.
A number of people have genuinely bought land and built houses in Nairobi. Others have bought apartments.
One thing stands out – that most of Nairobi’s young people are looking to own their first home even before they hit 40 years.
Pastor Ken who is in his 30-something years – also already lives in his own house in Utawala area. The house is half-finished, but already moved in and no longer has to pay rent.
“You don’t need to have loads of money to do this… all you need is the desire,” he told Mwanahabari.co.ke
“I paid a deposit of Ksh600,000 then staggered the rest for a period of time. I was done in just a few months and here I am,” said Ken who moved into his house in February 2020 from his rented house in Nairobi’s Embakasi estate.
“Sometime I look at my house and I don’t believe it. You don’t have to wait to raise Ksh1 million in your account to have a roof on your head,” he adds.
My family is happy
“I moved in after finishing the ground floor. A lot of things still need to be sorted, and it will take time and money – but I derive satisfaction from the fact that I have a home. My family is happy and that’s what matters,” said Ken.
On the other side of town, is John who is an environmentalist and hydrologist by profession has already bought a parcel of land in Rongai. John is 35 years old.
“I will start building my house in the next few months. I just have a few things to sort before my wife and I pool some resources together to have our first home,” said John who has one child.
His neighbour is his former schoolmate at the University – who has already built his house on a one acre piece of land. Like John – he is yet to hit 40 years.