When I was a little girl, I had these hand-me-down shoes that I loved. I wore them everywhere. Anywhere, really. I don't think I cared whether they were appropriate for where I was going. If those were the shoes I wanted to wear, then those were the shoes I was wearing. And when they became too small, I still didn't want to let them go. I would squeeze my feet into them and somehow convince myself that they still fit. I imagine an adult looking at me and thinking, Child, these shoes are clearly too small. Please take them off. But I loved them. And I think about those shoes sometimes when I hear us talk about things like seasons, letting go, releasing, creating room, moving on. Usually, when we talk about letting go, there is something wrong with the thing we're letting go of. It has become toxic. It doesn't serve us anymore. It is holding us back. We have outgrown it. We need to make room for something better. And yes, sometimes that is exactly what letting go looks li...
For many Kenyans, the dream home is clear: a spacious bungalow or maisonette with a large homestead, flowering gardens, and all the trappings of success. This vision of a mansion has been the symbol of achievement, stability, and social status for generations. But how did this dream become so deeply ingrained? And does it still make sense in today’s rapidly changing world? The History of the Coveted Dream House The bungalow and maisonette styles rose to prominence during colonial and post-independence Kenya, inspired by Western architectural trends. These homes symbolized modernity, permanence, and upward mobility. Owning such a home became a milestone—a visible sign that you had “made it.” Through the decades, large plots in leafy neighborhoods with expansive interiors and manicured gardens became the gold standard of Kenyan homeownership. The Realities of Owning, Building, and Living in a Mansion However, beneath this dream lies a less discussed reality: the true cost of ownin...