From grass-thatched to iron sheets: West Pokot housing revolution

West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin when he appeared before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAIC) at Parliament buildings,Nairobi. September 11th,2023. [Elvis Ogina,Standard] A housing revolution is taking place in the hills and valleys of West Pokot County. The county government has initiated a project to replace grass-thatched huts with iron-sheet roofs, moving away from traditional cultural norms. According to Governor Simon Kachapin, this initiative aims to restore dignity among the people and will target 2,500 households. The initiative, dubbed "Ondoa Nyasi" (Remove the Grass), is set to cost Sh50 million and focuses on replacing traditional roofs with iron sheets. Kachapin explained that it represents a substantial shift in housing, health, climate resilience, and gender dynamics in this arid region. Each of the 2,500 households will receive ten iron sheets-enough to roof a basic two-room house. "We are not just distributing iron sheets; we are restoring dignity to our people," said the county chief. During the project's launch in Suam Ward, Kachapin stated, "We want every family to live in a home that protects them from heat, rain, and disease. It's about modernising rural life without erasing our culture." Residents are excited about the project. For 64-year-old Chemoyo Loisekong of Kacheliba, the change is deeply personal. Her current hut, built in the 1980s, is patched with old sacks and leaking plastic. "When it rains, water soaks our bedding," she said. "This gift from the county will change how we live. We never imagined sleeping under an iron roof." While the county provides the iron sheets, beneficiaries are expected to supply timber, mud, and labour, ensuring community ownership. The project is being rolled out in all 20 wards, with household selection done in collaboration with local MCAs to ensure equity. Despite decades of development, an estimated 4 in 10 households in West Pokot still live under grass-thatched roofs. Once symbols of pastoral resilience, these roofs are now viewed as hazards that are prone to fires, leaks, insect infestations, and heat loss. "There is no dignity in living in a leaking, smoky hut," said Leonard Kamsait, the County Chief Officer for Water and Environment. "Grass harvesting for roofing also degrades the environment by causing erosion, drying rivers, and lowering rainfall." Iron sheet roofing offers several benefits, including supporting rainwater harvesting, solar installation, improved learning environments, and reducing the use of firewood and indoor smoke. In Pokot culture, building a home is traditionally the woman's responsibility. Once married, a woman must construct her own hut-often while pregnant or caring for children. The physical toll is immense, as women gather logs, weave ropes, and lay thatch. "Even if we are pregnant or sick, it doesn't matter. You must build your house," said Kama Cheyech, 30, balancing atop the frame of her half-finished hut in Kasei Ward. "No man will come to do it for you." "If you wait for your husband, you'll sleep outside," added Nancy Cherotich, a co-wife assisting with the construction. "We are taught to support each other; it's our duty." However, many find this cultural expectation exhausting. "We fetch water, farm, raise children, and build houses," said Easther Lodipo from Chepareria. "We are overworked. When do we rest?" Some elders defend the tradition as practical, particularly in pastoralist communities where men are often away with livestock. "If a woman doesn't build her home, she sleeps in the rain," said Peter Lopetakori, a Pokot elder. "But yes, things are changing. In towns like Makutano, men are helping more. Education is breaking old patterns." Thanks to Ondoa Nyasi, signs of change are emerging. In Tapach and Siyoi, youth groups assist with roofing while women focus on childcare or farming. Even men like Paul Lokir, a father of seven, are stepping in. "Now we ask, what can we do to support our wives?" Lokir said. "We need more timber, nails, and training-this can't just be about mabati (iron sheets)." The differences are already life-changing for many. For Chepsikin Lokortudo, a mother of five, the impact is significant. "Before, water leaked through the grass and made our kids sick. Now we sleep peacefully," she expressed. As iron sheets are installed across Pokot villages, what started as a roofing project is evolving into a social movement, challenging gender roles, enhancing climate resilience, and inspiring hope. Chemoyo Loisekong, another recipient, expressed her gratitude. "Even though we contribute our own efforts to construct, having the iron sheets provided lifts a huge burden off our shoulders. It's true development," she remarked. Michael Siakin, a resident of Kacheliba, praised the initiative as a long-overdue change. "Iron sheets are not just about roofing; they're about dignity. It means our children will grow up in safer homes and attend school without worry," he said. In a place where homes were once built of grass and sweat, the future may now be forged in iron and shared responsibility.

From grass-thatched to iron sheets: West Pokot housing revolution

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