Pressure to own homes denying Nairobi’s middle class sleep

Most of the young men (and women) – in jobs said they are daily competing against time to establish themselves when it’s still 'raining'.

The ever present fear of losing that job – and with it a means of livelihood is haunting many young people.

Richard who currently works with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Nairobi knows this fear all too well -- having lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He says he had to live with friends -- as his wife and children moved in with his parents for more that 14 months.

“My greatest fear is losing my job, again, and not being able to pay my rent. I cannot even imagine what I would do,” says the 37-year-old who lives in Kileleshwa, and paying  Sh65,000 rent for the 2-bedroom unit.

He says he has seen his friend’s lives change in an instant; many with no place to sleep after losing their jobs. 

“Trust me, your life can change in an instant, just like that and you are homeless,” he says – adding that he is in the process of buying a small piece of land in Utawala. Richard is a husband and a father of two children; seven-year-old and three-year-old.

Although some are yet to actualize their dreams of owning a home in Nairobi – there are those who are already living in their own homes.

Take the case of Shadrack Ogolla who currently lives in Kiserian, Kajiado, having moved into his own house in 2022.

“There is a reprieve that comes with not having to worry about rent at the end of every month. It’s peaceful even though one needs to sacrifice to realise this dream,” Ogolla told Wananchi Reporting – noting that he moved into his ‘unfinished’ house after losing his job at a logistics company in Nairobi.

“It wasn’t easy after I lost my job. I found myself struggling with rent and at the same time building my house. One morning I just decided to move in and I have been finishing the house while living inside,” says Ogolla who has just hit 40 years.

With rent no longer a headache, Ogolla focussed on buying Sukuma Wiki, electricity and bus fare.

Ogolla says he was inspired to own a home by his late dad. It was his wish that before he dies that we also have our own homes around Nairobi.

“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,” Ogolla told Wananchi Reporting.

According to the 2019 population and census results, out of 47.6 million Kenyans, only 7,379,485 Kenyans own their homes. This translates to 15.4 percent of the total population.

Meanwhile, the number of Kenyans paying rent in Nairobi stood at 1,354,882.

Some of the young men and women told Wananchi Reporting that they have already bought parcels of land – and are in the process of clearing loans they took.

Others are just beginning the journey to own homes – but also point out a myriad of challenge they face on this journey.

Take the case of Nicholas who has been conned twice – in his journey to own land and eventually a house.

Nicholas bought land twice; paid deposits only to later learn that the land had other owners. The case has been counting days in court with no end in sight. In total, he lost Ksh750,000.

According to property expert Sammy Hiuhu, a director at Lebnon Agencies Ltd, a land buying company in Kitengela – anyone who wants to invest in property should exercise due diligence.

“If you are serious you want to buy property; you must take time to get proper legal representation. Both the seller and the buyer should get a lawyer or a law firm to conduct history searches on the land and the title,” says Sammy. He cautions against buying land without first understanding its history.

Adding that “Dubious land sellers will ask you to pay for a piece of land in cash or through mobile money. They will try as much as possible to avoid bank transfers because of trail. These are red flags.”

“The race to own a home can easily drain you emotionally or financially if not planned well. Take time to learn from experts and from people who already have homes,”says John*, a former journalist who has a home in Kitengela.

"I bought the piece of land when I didn't have a stable salary. I was only working as a correspondent and getting paid based on stories I submitted," he said, noting that all it needs is discipline and dedication.

"Although I don't have a job today, I am able to live around Nairobi and do my things here and there. I don't know what I would do without a house," he told Wananchi Reporting.

The general feeling among most people is that with their own roof over their heads, they can always hustle and survive in Nairobi in the event their job leaves them, or should they retire.