Kitengela land buyers count losses amid heavy rains

Kitengela is currently experiencing lots of rain; probably the heaviest amount of rain in six years.

While the rains mean the legendary dust associated with the place has subsided, it also means that most of the feeder roads are impassable.

Cases of vehicles getting stuck in the black cotton soil, for hours on end, are a common occurrence.

The rains however, come with a silver lining for those wishing to purchase land in the area.

Sam Hiuhu says that the best time to purchase land in Kitengela is during the rainy season.

"Kitengela is basically a semi-arid area meaning that there are a lot of dormant seasonal rivers around," he explains.

"Whenever it rains heavily like now, all the seasonal rivers come alive, flooding land and causing a lot of damage,” says Hiuhu.

People whose property fall on seasonal rivers are counting losses as they come to terms with the painful reality that no meaningful development can take place on such land.

Hiuhu, who is a property agent in Kitengela, says that such people bought most of their land during the dry season – and most did not know they were buying swampy lands.

"Some of these lands look quite attractive and well drained during dry season," he says.

Adding: “Wait until the heavy rains come and the dormant river beds come alive. I have seen families waking up in the middle of the night to collect household items from a sea of water, simply because they built their houses on ‘dry river beds’."

Storm waters, says Hiuhu, must find their way, even if it means destroying houses that are on its path.

According to Hiuhu, this could be the right time to buy land in arid areas like Kitengela, Mavoko and Athi River.

“You have an opportunity to see for yourself if the land being sold to you sits in the middle of a seasonal river, and how it 'behaves' during rains," adds Hiuhu.

Land buyers are advised to look out for deep gullies in the land they are about to buy; as this is where waters flow through during rainy seasons.

Lookout for land that appears suspiciously flat; as the seller might have covered up the river bed with soil.

Also, talk to the people who live around because they may have good knowledge of the land. Land in Kitengela continues to be in demand due to its proximity to Nairobi.