Molly at her apartment in Lang'ata. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIKU | NMG
From outside, there is nothing especially hotel-like about these
homes. Some are located in very desirable neighbourhoods while others
are in downtown Nairobi. Some have beds made from recycled pallets but
fancy, others have gone extra with Bohemian interiors while many are
just basic Kenyan homes, minimally decorated.
Yet these
houses, listed on the home sharing site Airbnb, charging from Sh1,500
for accommodation to Sh7,000 a day, are attracting thousands of
foreigner travellers and earning Kenyans extra income.
As
the younger generation begins to travel more, they are opting for
authentic experiences over the comfort and luxury offered in traditional
hotels. They want to live like locals, mingle and share experiences
with them in markets where they buy their daily groceries to joining
them in churches.
Molly Ogogo is one of the Airbnb
entrepreneurs. The teacher by profession rents out extra space in her
apartment in Nairobi’s Langata.
She first came across
of the home sharing concept when she was doing a random Internet search
on cheap places to stay in Singapore. Though banned in Singapore, Airbnb
was everywhere on the results page, she says.
She first enrolled as a guest, and later came back to Nairobi and started hosting others for extra income.
Ms Ogogo's Airbnb house in Lang'ata. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIKU | NMG
Ms Ogogo is among the growing list of Kenyans who
are renting out extra rooms or houses on different homestay platforms.
From stand-alone houses to apartments and single self-contained rooms,
local hosts have listed a variety of properties.
Some
hosts rent an apartment, furnish it and then give it out to tourists for
short stays. This is the case with David Kiragu and Martin Kinuthia,
both IT professionals.
Mr Kiragu has listed a property
on Kirinyaga Road in downtown Nairobi while Mr Kinuthia has rented out
an apartment in Ruaka, not far from Two Rivers Mall.
“The
property is steps away from Two Rivers Mall. I chose the area because
it’s better known for expatriates on long-term contracts, middle-class
locals and foreigners,” he says.
Mr Kiragu says that proximity to the city centre informed his choice of the Airbnb house.
“I
know many people might have doubts [due to insecurity] but the property
is close to Globe Roundabout and the security is pretty good, despite
the perception most have of downtown Nairobi,” he says.
For
years, hotels have dominated the accommodation part of tourism. But the
high rates made travelling expensive. Nowadays, low budget hotels,
desire to explore the world and affordable Airbnb homes have made it
easier for many to travel, even those who do not have a lot of
disposable income.
Travellers are also looking for
experiences away from the confines of designated tourist areas.
Millennials are passionate users of Airbnb and roughly 60 percent of all
guests who have ever booked on Airbnb are the young generation.
Kenya,
according to Airbnb, ranks third in Africa on listing homes after South
Africa and Morocco. In 2018, there were about 132,000 property listed
on Airbnb in Africa, and the number is rising.
David Kiragu at Eagles Tower Kirinyaga Road. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIKU | NMG
The homes attract from solo travellers to families and groups.
Families on leisure or business trips favour Ms Ogogo’s house. They stay in her spare bedrooms while sharing the living room.
She
adds that her sharing her three-bedroom apartment with strangers is not
only about making money. Some who stay for months have become her
friends and return guests.
“The concept of hosting
strangers is rewarding in itself. I get to learn so much from them
because they come from different backgrounds and countries. The guests
on their part receive a different kind of experience from luxury
hotels,” she says.
For Mr Kinuthia, ensuring tourists have a memorable stay in Nairobi is what excites him.
Martin at his house in Ruaka, which he has listed on Airbnb. PHOTO | COURTESY
“Hosting is a great experience because I meet
people from all over the world. Because they are well-travelled, some
give me tips on how to make my house more comfortable and they recommend
it to their friends and families,” he says.
Some of his guests are now like family, he adds.
“I
actually take care of their needs as if they were my own, recommending
nice hangout joints, my favourites, so they definitely feel like family
to me.”
Mr Kiragu gives an example of a couple he hosted months ago and they have been communicating since.
“Most
times, a host’s kindness is rewarded with a high rating and constant
bookings. And who knows, they might even invite me visit them,” Ms Ogogo
says.
Some of the Airbnb entrepreneurs in Kenya also have day jobs. So how do they juggle work and hosting?
The
concept of homestay is straightforward; homeowners give out extra space
in their houses for travellers and as a host, one is only obligated to
give space and not around the clock services as is the case in hotels.
Kitchen area of Mr Kiragu's Airbnb along Kirinyaga Road, downtown Nairobi. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIKU | NMG
So there is no cooking for the guests or planning their itinerary, unless on request and which attracts extra charges.
This
gives hosts time to focus on other things, say full-time employment
while using their free time to welcome tourists to their homes or a
separately rented apartment.
“Hosting is not really
engaging as long as someone is there to usher in the guest and orient
them. Most guests have their daily engagements so you get ample time to
do you other tasks,” says Ms Ogogo.
The platforms also
have features that make it easy for hosts to organise their schedules,
only inviting people in their homes when they have the time and their
listings are ready.
By AFP
The late billionaire Njenga Karume.
The estimated Sh500 billion at the core of inheritance disputes filed in
courts between relatives of departed billionaires is a cautionary tale
of what happens when patriarchs fail to have structured talks with
stakeholders on how their empires should be run after they die. 
Some money myths are so pervasive that most people believe them, yet
you may be losing money by
Macharia Kamau
Kenya Aviation Workers Union secretary-general Moss Ndiema at a past media briefing in Nairobi. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
Somalia and Kenya are involved in a border dispute at the International
Court of Justice in the Hague over an area in the Indian Ocean about
100,000 square kilometres, which is said to contain hydrocarbons
reserves. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Mr Gyorgy Geiszl. PHOTO | NMG
Ekeza Sacco members line up for verification during a special general meeting at Kasarani last February. FILE PHOTO | NMG
