THIS ARTICLE says that putting up a multi-million rural mansion where you only spend the 2 week xmas break every year doesn't make sense.

The line of thought might change in Kenya with the coming up of counties, especially for people with their rural areas close to the county headquarters.

I'm more for a holiday home at the coast, which I can rent out when family is not using it. Don't poor villagers detest one, when you visit the village, fail to give them big handouts yet you have a big house which no one uses?

I am with @Jaggernut and @Mukiri on this, at least for now. As a young professional with a few years in the business, it makes no sense for me to build a mansion in the village while am renting wherever i am living.

I grew up in the city and as a first born i saw my parents build a mansion to rival any in Karen or Lavi, complete with a high wall, razor wire and electrical fencing, while they were still renting in the city. It was ironical that the landlord, one of those micromanaging ladies used to pay us a visit to make sure that rent money had been deposited into her KCB Kencon account.

The house standing next to my other uncles' was a big source of social and cultural pride for my father. As a family we used the house once a year but my dad would visit 2 or 3 times more while on his businesses in that part of the country (200km away from the city). In our teenage years I and my siblings simply refused to accompany the parents on the annual visits.

When i started working, my dad told me that with hindsight, he would have bought or built a family house in the city first, built a smaller basic house or built at a more strategic location where he could rent out to county elite when not using it. As it is, the house is on ancestral land and renting it out to outsiders is a no no.

In my community, it is a "taboo" self imposed or otherwise that a grown man esp who is married should "sleep" in his father's house. My father admitted that this was the primary reason he spent huge sums to build the house. He wanted a place where his wife and children could "sleep" on his visits to the village.

To some extent, I am a captive to the same culture . My former room in that house has been unused for several years. In any case, when i am in the neighbourhood, which has averaged like two days passing by, once in two years i don't want to start cooking, doing my laundry etc. I just check into a nice hotel 20km away, do my business and move on.

Most African men build houses in the village for cultural reasons. They houses also serve as status symbol just like cars. It is normal for someone to build a huge house in a remote area or buy an expensive car even when there is no economic or utilitarian reason to do so.

As for me i will buy a family residential, investment property, holiday home and village house in that order. I should be able to rent out the first three if for any reason i am not in physical occupation.

There is no reason why i shouldn't intergrate the homes/ houses. Say i buy a 2 br starter house, later buy a 4br town house. The starter house becomes a rental ppty. Once the children grow up, they can move into the starter house temporarily. Alternatively the second house is a villa at the coast. Rent it out when not in use. On retirement move into the villa and first home is rental. Or instead of building on ancestral land, sell my portion to my bros/uncles. Acquire a plot at the nearest county Hq. Build rental units and reserve the penthouse for my use etc

@murchr, What will he be doing in Muranga if he earns his living in say Nairobi?
Why will life in Nairobi be more expensive soon? I thought "soon" people will be surrounding their county HQs, slowing the property demand in Nairobi.

Most of the village homes are built for cultural reasons. Why would you spend millions in a place your family visits once while you keep on paying rent?
This is akin to a dude buying a smartphone worth more than half their monthly take home, and all they do is call,text and facebook.
I don't believe in pleasing the society,they don't give a hoot about ones well being.
But we all see things differently.

I think county investments(real estate or business) in any count will be based on wealth generation capabilities of the counties.Otherwise,how will the investments generate profits?

Am amazed when I read on how wazuans believe devolution will move people to the counties? Let me ask, apart from govt, who else is moving, where and when? Even govt, when is it moving?

@mkeiyd, how long does it take to get to muranga from nrb in this day? about an hr? or 1 hr 30 mins? isnt that the same time it takes to get to some of these city estates?...some people have seen this wisdom, most ppl who have homes in machakos are now commuting daily.

Which Bunyala Busia or Kakamega?

A decent house at your rural home is worthwhile especially if there are money generating projects or you are the type who like relaxing in the country side. If you have the money and are wise enough to know how to go about it go for it. Just build a not so big decent bungalow na ujenge pole pole take your time even 5 years it will barely have any effect on your finances.

Busia