BBC Journalist Builds Unique Home On Top of Lorry in Machakos [PHOTOS]

The Truck House in Machakos, Kenya.
The Truck House in Machakos, Kenya.
Ian Wafula

How far would you go to build a house that fulfills your desires? For BBC journalist Ian Wafula, he sought to explore the concept of tiny homes but with a twist.

Labeled the Truck House, the abode is a one-of-a-kind in Kenya due to its unorthodox positioning on top of a truck.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the journalist-cum homeowner explained that he sought to create an experience that was unique with his house, in Makutano junction, Machakos County.

Inside the Truck House in Machakos County.
Inside the Truck House in Machakos County.
Ian Wafula

"I initially wanted to build a container home but later decided to get a truck and build around it instead," he explained.

The mission which started with a search on social media ended at a car yard in Thika where he set his sights on an old government truck and immediately put a deposit before having it towed to Machakos.

Ian Wafula
BBC journalist Ian Wafula and sister with the truck which he built a house on.
Ian Wafula

The construction of the two-storey building took six months using premade panels which he observed was cheaper and quicker.

Even though the house appears small from outside it has a number of exquisite features including a big screen, a bedroom in the loft, and a barbeque area.

The compound has a small pool and as for the truck head, Wafula explained, that he had plans to turn it into an office.

He conveyed that during construction, the project raised questions from his neighbours who wondered why he was building a house on top of a truck.

"Everyone who was coming there thought I was crazy. A neighbour even offered to give me two containers to build a house in exchange for the truck," he divulged.

Ian Wafula with friends during the construction of the Truck House in Machakos.
Ian Wafula with friends during the construction of the Truck House in Machakos.
Ian Wafula

The journalist added that with the construction of the highway, it would be easy to commute from the home to the Nairobi CBD.

In addition to moving into the home, Wafula plans to venture into the Airbnb business where he will rent out the space for people at a rate of Ksh8,000 a night.

Here are more photos of the Truck House:

The Truck House at Makutano Junction, Machakos County
The Truck House at Makutano Junction, Machakos County
Ian Wafula
the interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
The interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
Ian Wafula

 

the interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
the interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
Ian Wafula
the interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
the interior of the Truck House in Machakos.
Ian Wafula