A shagz in lavish Karen with a ‘long drop’ toilet

Nairobians born around 1990 in the city’s leafy suburbs might never have squatted in a pit latrine to answer a ‘long drop’ call of nature.

In fact, these youngsters nicknamed mababi (fleshed from the name Babylon which in reggae speak means affluent Westerner) are mostly from Runda, Kileleshwa, Karen and Lavington areas of Nairobi. Some are so urbanised they can hardly differentiate a goat from a dog, or that carrots are uprooted from the ground!

Most of these youngsters have hardly set foot in shagz — rural Kenya.

Like cultural nights which brought villages to the city through music and traditional cuisine, Ushago Homestead in Karen now aims at achieving the same.

The brainchild of the unique venture is Shibero Akatsa. He says that the experience of how to use a pit latrine, sleep in mud-walled houses and eat traditional foods prepared and served traditionally is a novel one to the new generation.

“I started with three huts more than five years ago. Neighbours thought I was nuts, considering that everyone around here is living large,” explains Shibero who has a background in mental health, but wanted to help those who have never ‘tasted’ village life to experience the oneness with nature, surrounded by chirping birds and livestock.

The village setting on one acre comprises three huts and a main house with mud walls. There are several guest rooms with simple beds and small tables with paraffin lamps just like those used in remote villages upcountry.

The compound has indigenous trees, including neem trees, aloe-vera, rosemary and banana trees. It includes a tradition utensils rack made of wiremesh and poles.

At a corner stands a rather old pit latrine with the door made of reeds, just enough to keep off any prying eyes. Besides the latrine is a bathroom covered with black polythene on the sides and no roof.

“Many people think living in mud houses is a sign of poverty, but it’s more of a lifestyle that we don’t appreciate. Those visiting either carry their own food or prepare them traditionally, since everything is available, including vegetables and smoked indigenous chicken using traditional smoker,” adds Shibero.

 Shibero reveals that students from various prestigious schools and families visited Ushago Homestead and learnt for the first time that milk come from cows and eggs from chickens, not supermarkets.

He remembers the excitement of some children when “they touched a cow for the first time in their lives.”

But its not for free. Those aged between four and 13 years pay Sh800, while families with two children fork out Sh1,450 as those with more than two kids Sh2,250 to stay at Ushago.