He Built a Mansion in Kiserian, Went Back to Renting in Just 2 Months

For many young Kenyans, the ultimate financial dream is to stop paying rent and move into a home you own. A place with your own gate, your own compound, your own rules. No noisy neighbours and no landlord calls.

For 30-year-old James Otieno, a data analyst earning a net salary of Ksh120,000, that dream came true, then quickly turned into an expensive lesson.

In January 2025, he proudly moved into his newly completed three-bedroom home in Kiserian. It was everything he had imagined in his 20s: space, peace, and the achievement of homeownership before turning 35.

By March 2025, after just two months, James moved back to rent in Nairobi. 

Chasing the Dream of Owning a Home

James had lived in Kilimani for five years, in a one-bedroom apartment where he paid Ksh30,000 per month. He enjoyed the convenience of being close Upper Hill, where he worked. Supermarkets, gyms, hospitals, and social hangout spots were within walking distance. But he always felt that renting was temporary.

He wanted privacy, peace, and a place where he could eventually raise a family. His goal was clear: own a home by 30 and start a family by 35. At 30, he made the move.

The Build That Became His Biggest Achievement

James bought a quarter-acre in Kiserian for Ksh1.5 million. He saw it as the perfect blend of quiet living and reasonable commuting distance to Nairobi. Construction took a full year, and he invested heavily to make the house feel modern and comfortable. In the end he spent Ksh 4 million on the house project.

For weeks, he enjoyed the peace, the space, and the pride of achieving something many people only dream of. Then reality hit.

Why He Left After Just 2 Months

1. The commute became unbearable

Even with his own car, the daily drive from Kiserian to Upper Hill drained him. On good days, he spent at least an hour and a half on the road. On bad days, it stretched to two and a half hours one way.

He was often leaving home at 5:30 am to avoid traffic and returning as late as 8 pm. Some weeks, he spent more time in the car than in his living room. Exhaustion became normal.

His fuel cost shot up from roughly Ksh6,000–8,000 per month while living in Kilimani Jamhuri, to Ksh12,000–15,000 per month. The mileage and rougher roads on the stretch from the main road to his house also increased his car maintenance expenses.

Although he was no longer paying rent, the commuting costs and time lost made the ‘cheaper’ home more expensive in other ways.

2. The loneliness was unexpected

James didn’t realise how much social connection mattered until it disappeared. In Kilimani, visiting friends, grabbing a drink after work, or joining a spontaneous weekend plan was effortless. In Kiserian, everything required planning, petrol money, and long drives.

Friends rarely visited because of the distance, and he felt more isolated than ever.

3. Lack of amenities affected His Lifestyle

The contrast between urban living and suburban living hit hard. In his old neighbourhood He had three gyms within 10 minutes in addition to groceries and food deliveries were a call away.

In Kiserian, basic things required trave

4. He didn’t feel safe all the time

Within the two months there were some incidents on insecurity in the area, making him feel unsafe especially when he had to return home late in the night.

Key Lessons from His Experience

Moving back to rent did not mean James regretted building. In fact, he sees the value of owning property. But he learned some lessons that many young professionals can benefit from.

1. Calculate the full cost of living—beyond just rent. Include commuting time, fuel, maintenance, lifestyle expenses, convenience, and emotional wellbeing. Cheaper living can become more expensive in hidden ways.
2. Homeownership is not only a financial decision—it affects your daily life, routines, relationships, and happiness. A house can be beautiful but emotionally and socially draining if it disconnects you from your life.

Wrapping up

Owning a home is a milestone worth celebrating, but it must align with where you are in life—not just where you hope to be years from now.

James built his dream too early. He built for a future family, not for the single, career-focused version of himself that he currently is.

Before building far from Nairobi just to escape rent, ask yourself: Will this home support the life I am living now, or only the life I hope to live someday?