Majority of Kenyans don't involve professionals when building homes

This is according to the 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey, which highlighted the need for professionals in the housing process. 

Overall, architects were the most utilised professionals while constructing at 19.4 per cent, followed by electrical engineers (15.7 per cent) and land surveyors (9.1 per cent). 

Structural engineers followed suit at 7.7 per cent, planners at 5.8 per cent and civil engineers (5.2 per cent). 

The least used professionals in the sector were estate agents and mechanical engineers at 0.4 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively. 

The majority of the households cited high cost, and unavailability as the reasons for not involving the professionals. 

The report also highlighted the factors influencing a homeowner to choose a location; with most Kenyans opting to settle in an inherited land (49.3 per cent), purchasing affordable land (21.6 per cent) and proximity to relatives (10.8 per cent). 

Further, the report showed that 87.4 per cent of tenants did not experience rent increments in the past five years as opposed to 12.6 per cent. 

Primarily, tenants who paid rent to government entities and the faith-based organization did not report rent increments while 13.4 per cent of those who paid rent to individuals through agents, and 12.0 per cent of those who paid to individuals directly, reported having experienced rent increments.

"Rent increments often reflect increases in the cost of living, including inflation rates and rising property taxes or maintenance costs," the report read in part. 

"In addition, rent increases can indicate strong demand for housing in a particular area driven by factors such as population growth, job opportunities, or desirable amenities."