A developer's Ksh 500,000 bungalows located in Nairobi and Mombasa have sparked debate among Kenyans with many expressing their disaffection at the construction - and the accompanying price tag.
In Mombasa, the houses are situated at Mtwapa and Bamburi, while those in Nairobi sit along Kenyatta Road, off Thika Superhighway as you head towards Gatundu.
The projects are funded and managed by Kenya Projects Budget Homes - Grace - a housing agency that aims to provide the country’s population with adequate and decent housing in a sustainable environment.
Through their social media pages, Kenya Projects said that prospective buyers have to avail 50 per cent of the Ksh 500,000, that is Ksh 250,000 to book the house and remit the balance after a year of purchase.
The two bedroom houses are said to be fully furnished, with furniture, curtains, carpets among other additions. It also has a sit-on toilet which further acts as a bathroom and a sub smaller kitchen.
Kenyans, however, raised concerns over the size of the houses, with some saying that they were tiny, and could not accommodate everything the developer claimed the houses contained.
A number of Kenyans felt that the houses would better be sold as bedsitters, or at least as one bedroom units, and not two bedroom houses.
"I feel suffocated.... out of breath by just looking at the photos, let alone entering the house. This world is so big to restrict yourself this much," Muthoni Maina said.
The financial aspect was also a contentious issue as a number of Kenyans argued that Ksh 500,000 was enough to fund a business that would provide income worth purchasing land and put up a bigger house.
"Those saying it's better than the slum, do you really believe that a Kenyan living in a shack can afford to have savings in the bank or enough financial connections to raise this amount?
"There is however a way to help the slum dwellers own such a house. That is through a rent to own plan. Only the government can afford to come up with such plans, however, we all are informed that it would be marred with corruption and time delays," Wanjiku Njenga aired her concerns.
Kenya Projects, however, explained that the houses can be modified as per the new owner's requirement.
Some Kenyans defended the project, lauding the developers' idea. Jane Wanjiku said that the house looks good and that smaller houses are popular in other countries. She added that the project suits low-income earners.
"This would be an 'upgrade' to so many Kenyan homes...if you are blessed to build a bigger better one, thank your God," Gicheru Cubu concurred.
Kenya Projects, through its website, noted that the Kenyan housing sector has been unable to provide sufficient affordable housing to residents due to the recent increase in population growth and urbanization.
The agency also constructs maisonettes, bedsitters, flats and bungalows depending on demand. The houses range from Ksh 800,000 to Ksh 3 million.
The average size of each unit is 28fs by 15fs ground floor with a standard kitchen and upstairs 2 standard bedrooms of about 15fs and 12fs, a toilet and bathroom and a parking bay of 15fs by 18fs at the front side of each unit.
"The approved plan allows expansion of a big room on top of the parking at a cost of Ksh 600,000. The room can act as a living room or master en-suite bedroom," the developer said.
