Why Is House Sharing Unpopular In Nairobi? (2/30)

When you get your first job and are setting out on your own, house sharing is the most obvious option because you have limited resources to rent and fit out the house. Even for people who have worked longer, it still makes sense because with combined income, one can afford to live in a better address than they would afford on their own.

House sharing means shared groceries’ bills, shared tasks around the house, and less loneliness because you have company at home.

It means you can afford a helper to clean and cook for you, which saves you the hassle of cooking for 1 every evening.

The downside to house sharing I guess is the loss of personal space, and the fact that we have different hygiene standards. Nothing a few ground rules wouldn’t solve.

While it seems like the most obvious option for housing, why then isn’t house sharing more popular in Nairobi?

Expatriates house share a lot, but locals seem to prefer to live by themselves, or share houses for short periods of time. What’s peculiar about our culture, that makes it hard for us to live with each other, yet we grew up sharing everything with our siblings, extended family and neighbours?