I Spent Ksh5.2M Building Rentals; They've Been Empty for 10 Years Because of a Lie

For years, my retirement plan was simple.

Work hard, save consistently, and, once I retired, build rental houses that would provide me with a steady monthly income.

I worked at the Ministry of Lands in Nairobi for most of my career. When I finally retired in 2012, I returned to my rural home in Homa Bay County, ready to begin the next chapter of my life.

One thing immediately caught my attention.

The nearby shopping centre had grown tremendously. New businesses were opening, schools had expanded, and more government offices had been established as devolution kicked in 2023. Teachers, nurses and civil servants were increasingly looking for decent places to rent.

I saw an opportunity.

After months of searching, in 2014, I found a 50 by 100 plot just a short distance from the town centre. The owner wanted Ksh400,000, which I considered a bargain given the pace of development.

I didn't spend much time asking questions.

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The title deed looked genuine, the location was excellent, and I feared someone else would buy it if I delayed.

Looking back, that was my biggest mistake.

I completed the purchase and invested about Ksh4.8 million to build six modern one-bedroom rental houses. When construction was completed, I proudly erected a "I bedrooms available, call 07…’’ sign outside the compound.

Within days, a young couple expressed interest. I was excited. Finally, my retirement investment was about to start paying for itself.

They moved in. Three weeks later, they asked to leave.

At first, I assumed they were moving to another town. Instead, they told me something I had never expected to hear.

They claimed that every night they heard strange movements on the roof, almost as if people were walking above their ceiling.

They said they couldn't sleep. No amount of reassurance could convince them to stay.

After they left, I struggled to find another tenant.

Whenever someone came to view the houses, they seemed interested until they spoke to neighbours.

Then they disappeared. I couldn't understand what was happening.

Eventually, an elderly resident explained what everyone else already seemed to know that I did not know.

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The woman who had sold me the land was widely believed in the area to practise witchcraft. Whether the stories were true or not didn't matter.

The rumours had become part of the land's identity. People believed the plot was cursed.

As I tried to understand the situation, I discovered  the cause of ‘people walking on the roof.’

The neighbouring plot had been abandoned for years.

It had become overgrown with bushes and was used as an illegal dumping site. The thick vegetation attracted large rats.

Because most of my rental units were empty, the rats often found their way onto the roof. At night, they ran across the ceiling.

Unfortunately, by the time I realised the source of the noise, it was too late. Their story had spread throughout the area.

People now repeated it as evidence that the rumours about the land were true. Anyone considering renting my houses was quickly warned.

"You don't want to live there."

"There are strange things happening in that compound."

"It is not a normal place."

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I tried everything. I hired people to clear the neighbouring bushes. I sealed openings in the roofs. I placed rat traps around the compound. The noises eventually stopped.

The rumours didn't.

Even today, the houses remain largely vacant.

The saddest part is that the buildings themselves are in excellent condition.

The location is still attractive. Demand for housing has continued to grow. Yet my investment earns almost nothing because of a reputation I inherited without knowing it.

Looking back, I realise I only carried out half of the due diligence.

I confirmed the ownership documents. I verified the title. I checked the location. But I never took time to understand the history of the land, the neighbourhood or how the surrounding community viewed the property.

Today, whenever someone tells me they have found the perfect plot at a bargain price, I give them one piece of advice.

Don't just investigate the paperwork. Talk to neighbours. Walk around the area. Ask difficult questions.

Sometimes, the biggest risk isn't hidden in the title deed. It's hidden in the stories people tell long after the sale is complete.