Why Kenyans Spend Millions on Conventional Houses While Overlooking Affordable Container Houses Two Decades Later

Today's blog is centered around container houses, and the blog was inspired by a trending social media post. The author referred to the Kenyan minds as ‘so closed and obtuse’ for choosing to spend a glaring 10 million Kenyan shillings on a conventional house they shall outgrow in 10 years, rather than spend a fifth of that amount on a container house that is aesthetically appealing, durable, and cheaper. Firstly, container houses and conventional houses are equally durable and aesthetically appealing. However, container houses are cost-effective (they cost between 2.4 million and 4 million for a 4-bedroom house), environmentally friendly, have a shorter construction duration ( 3 - 6 months), and are versatile in design. Conventional dwellings, on the other hand, are a bit expensive (they cost between 4 million and 7.4 million for a 4-bedroom house) and have a longer construction duration (6 -12 months). The other benefit of container houses is their portability. Recently, there have been rising cases of demolition by the government, relatives and county governments. This has resulted in many Kenyans being rendered homeless in a second. Sometimes, widows have been chased away from their houses after the demise of their husbands. Others have been swindled of their conventional houses by their partners after separation. Container houses, in this case, offer a competitive edge over conventional houses regarding portability as they can be moved to new places. Photo of a container house. Photo Credit; Pexels Despite this contrast, many Kenyans continue building conventional houses two decades later. Here are some of the reasons why Kenyans spend millions of shillings on conventional houses while overlooking affordable container houses two decades later: Regulatory Challenge: It is hard to obtain permits to construct container houses. Stereotypes: Container houses are often perceived as shipping containers, and a person who opts to live in such a place is considered 'extremely poor. ' Thermal Insulation: Some containers become very inhabitable during the day due to varying weather patterns. Cultural Preferences: Container houses are a Western concept. Moreover, Kenyans develop a sense of pride when their houses transition from just a piece of soil to a stunning structure. On the issue of one outgrowing a conventional house in 10 years, that generally depends more on individual circumstances and lifestyle changes than the type of house. If you want to learn more about container houses in Kenya, click on this link: Container Houses To conclude, in Kenya, a house isn't just a place to put one's head after a long day, but it's a sanctuary, healing ground, hallmark of achievement, sense of pride, a convergence place, a boiling pot of sweet conversations, and an indomitable dwelling. Would you prefer to construct a conventional house or a container house? Let me know in the comments section.