I was keen to get it right this time! - By Chris Shimba
Having lost my first-ever plot investment in Ruai, I was keen to get it right this time around and my concern was to invest through a Sacco. At the moment, Kentours Housing Society was selling two plots: one in Kamulu and the other in Kitengela. Knowing very well that I didn’t have so much money at my disposal and the struggle I would have after buying land on loan, I was hoping to take a loan that would enable me to purchase a plot and at least put up a structure that would ensure I move out of a rented house so as to save the rent. I was therefore keen to purchase the plot in Kamulu which at the time was selling at Kes. 550,000. So, I convinced myself that if I took a loan of Kes. 1,000,000 I would invest Kes. 550,000 on the plot purchase and the balance on a temporary structure to move into. However, at the time I had young children and part of the consideration was accessible hospitals (you know how young children can fall sick often), schools, roads, and water. This is how I ended up buying the Kitengela plot which though quite a distance from Nairobi was close to the main road and accessible to most of these amenities.
In November 2015 I bought the plot in Kitengela but now at an increased price of Kes. 950,000 and with only Kes. 50,000 left out of the borrowed money, on 26th December 2015 I decided to start the foundation. The rest is history with a great struggle over the months. But come 27th November 2016, I was able to move into the new home. With only us and a few others in the area, everyone in my family was so excited to save for the few hiccups such as no electricity, the struggle for water, and the inaccessible road during rainy seasons. But as they say, man is meant to cope with the circumstances around him, and sooner or later, we turned these challenges into opportunities. For example, the lack of electricity meant more family time and bonding. The lack of water created the opportunity to be in charge of collecting water on Sundays and this became a tour and enjoyable moment for the children as they would go out with their dad and collect water. The inaccessible roads enabled us to come together as residents of the region, though few at the moment, we were able to form a resident’s association that today is strong and has seen the area have a road repair which though not perfect, is accessible.
It would not be conclusive to end this by not mentioning the support from the Society when one of our neighbours stopped my building as he imagined I was building in his plot. The Society came in handy with the surveyor to support me and since then, we have become great friends. Looking back to this initial investment, I am proud of our housing Society which enabled me to not only own my first plot in Nairobi but also enabled me to own a home. I have since bought other plots through the Society because of the encouragement I have gotten that; it’s not the much you have but the vision and the commitment you make towards realizing the vision set.
By Chris Shimba