Grass and mud mostly used building materials

By James Anyanzwa

Turkana, Wajir and Mandera counties have the least proportions of populations using corrugated iron sheets for roofing houses, according to a new report.

The report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Society for International Development (Sid) also shows that the counties have the least proportion of populations using stone, brick or block for walling houses as well as cement for flooring.

“The variations in housing material reflect both access to resources and lifestyle differences stemming from pastoralist versus sedentary living,” the report says.

Cement flooring

According to the report, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kiambu have the most proportion of their populations using corrugated iron sheets for roofing, brick or block for walling and cement for flooring. The report shows that iron sheets are the most common roofing material in Kenya for both rural and urban areas.

The use of cement flooring is three times more common in urban than rural households.  Conversely, the use of earth floors is also three times more common in rural households than in urban ones.

According to the report, the use of stone/brick/block walls is six times more common in urban areas than in rural areas just like the use of mud and wood is three times more common in rural than urban areas.