Mixed feelings as grass-thatched houses go ‘extinct’ in Luo Nyanza

According to the residents, the traditional Luo homestead is no more – as brick and mortar continue to take over the homes.

It’s a battle of traditions and modernity in a society where an individual’s worth is no longer measured by the size of the homestead.

Even the 'Simba' is made of bricks and iron sheet – and not the traditional wild grass, tree poles, sticks, sisal leaves and cow-dung.

Robert Ouko who hails from Oyugis in Homa-Bay told Wananchi Reporting that many people today tend to associate grass-thatched houses with poverty.

“In the past these were a sign of status, but not anymore. It’s like everyone wants to live in a mabati house – even the old. They would rather go without food but sleep in a decent house,” said Ouko.

“Also, the unpredictable weather pattern has left most of the land bare – meaning wild grass no longer grows," he says.

“There is no vegetation to support such houses because of the changing climatic factors in the past few years,” he said.

To put up a simple grass-thatched house, one would need a lot of grass for roofing, sisal poles, sisal leaves, tree poles, sticks and clay soil.

“You cannot get these material easily today because the land is bare. There is hardly any vegetation,” says Ouko – who notes that the concept of Simba has changed.

“In the past young men would hustle to build grass-thatched houses to show that they had attained maturity – as responsible men ready to bring a wife home,” says Ouko who graduated from the university three years ago and is yet to build a Simba.

Also, that the skilled old men who had mastered the art of thatching have long gone to be with the ancestors.

"Most young men today have no interest in learning thatching - and would rather spend time on Tik Tok," says Ouko. 

Many say that the educated young men are no longer interested in the traditional mud-walled Simba that smells of cow dung.

Although the grass-thatched houses are slowly becoming ‘extinct’, some residents still remember them with a strong feeling of nostalgia.

“The grass houses were cooler compared to these modern houses which get heated a lot because it’s very hot around here,” says Mzee Thomas Oliech.

“You could easily have an afternoon nap in a grass house. These days it’s impossible to enjoy a good nap in the afternoon because the mabati houses get heated you would think you are being cooked,” he said.

According to Oliech, the change also came due to the fact that most young men spend prolonged periods in school and in the capital looking for jobs – and so building a grass house makes no economic sense.

“A grass thatched house, no matter how well it is done, will always start leaking after some time whenever it rains.

“Also, given they are built using mud, sticks, poles and sisal leaves, they are easily susceptible to rain, wind, and sun,” said Oliech.

“Overtime they will attract insects like spiders, ants and even snakes especially when not inhabited for long,” he said – adding that most families spend lengthy periods away from homes working.

The general feeling is that the rise of brick and mortar in the areas signals growth and development in the region.