Can Young People Buy Land in Kenya?

A young man recently asked me how old I was when I bought my first piece of land in Syokimau. This got me thinking and I realized that young people, especially those in the age bracket of 25 to 30 years can and do afford land. However, at this age, the priorities are elsewhere including buying a car (I fell into this trap), getting married (and this one too), and enjoying life (much deeper!). These are all good things and one must always be on the lookout for getting a quality life. I believe in living first, saving second, and making long-term investments as third. Of course, many people do not agree with this.

Back to the young man’s question, I ran a number of scenarios in my head and concluded that I was late in investment. You see, I was among the lucky few who got a job immediately after college. With a salary of 20,000 per month and staying in Mathare Area 4 in a lightless underground room (my friends used to call my digs Kisima cha Giningi but I loved the place, probably because of the rent), I had a whole 10K to myself after expenses. Due to peer pressure, I moved to a better house within the estate, joined my buddies in taking one or two bottles a day, and soon, like the proverbial fool, I was soon separated with my money. Next was a vicious cycle of borrowing to meet my lifestyle.

This was way back in 2003 when President Kibaki had just become the president and Kenya was the happiest Country (Life is fleeting. I sometimes wonder how as a country we got here in 2021 with an astronomical external debt). Of course, I soon married (which in my opinion was too soon but I have 5 beautiful kids who think they are my brothers), got a promotion that came with27K monthly net salary, and moved houses. I consider early marriage, an unaffordable lifestyle, a cycle of friends with no vision, and high rent as the worst events that can face a young man under 30 years. I rode this period of my life without a lot of hope but maintaining a public image of a well-to-do young man.

In 2006, I took a loan from a SACCO and bought a jalopy (I still remember how my villagers changed their attitude about me). This, I think was the biggest mistake I made at 27 years old. But it introduced me to a new cycle of friends who in addition to the owning new Toyota 100s also owned some piece of earth in the jungles of Machakos. Over the weekend they would come back with stories on seeing lions, zebras and other wildlife just next to the airport.  One Saturday morning, a friend called Gilbert was too out of the world, so he asked me to drive him to Syokimau. This was in 2007.

Three things happened on this trip. First, I confirmed that Gilbert owns an eight just next to Nairobi. You see, Gilbert was a real hustler, earning just 15K (now gilbert owns a rental proving that nothing is difficult. You just need to plan). How could this be when everything we knew was that land was unaffordable? I also confirmed that Gilbert did not break any bank to own the land. He was paying for the land in installments of 10K per month (how do people manage this?). Finally, I made up my mind. I sold the jalopy for 300K and paid for a quarter at 250K. I think we drunk the rest. I was just 27 years old, so don’t blame me.

So you know, there were no roads Syokimau. The Airplane noises from the nearby Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were deafening. Basically, there was nothing. The decision may have been made without thinking, but this was the best, or perhaps the only decision that I have ever made without regretting: buying land (I don’t regret marriage per se but if you know you know). Now, looking back, the 300K invested in 2007 is worth 10 million. Am a millionaire o!

I digress. Of course, all these ran through my mind in a few seconds. I told the Youngman how I accidentally invested in land and how this information was hard to come by during our time. These days information is everywhere. Several organizations such as Mkono Poa have specific policies that target young people, women, and the so-called low income earners and support them to acquire property within 60Km radius of the Nairobi CBD. The good news is that am always on the look at to see opportunities for investing and land seems to be the easiest, especially when allowed to pay in monthly installments.

If you are a young person, don’t follow my pathway, but if I were you, I would start the journey towards becoming wealthy by investing now. And if you can spare 20,000 per month, call 0740 602 442 or visit www.mkonopoa.co.ke to start your journey today by getting land and paying in installments. If I were to start again, I will invest in property (to create wealth), marry (be aware marriage is expensive and without love and commitment, it is the easiest way out), and buy a jalopy.
Robert