Deciding on the right environment

Even  though many real estate players advise people on the social factors to consider when buying or renting a house, few mention  environmental factors.

Consequently, they will tell you about the location of the schools, shopping centres and malls in the area, but say little about the overall environment.

That is how Brian Muriithi found himself in a less-than desirable environment in Thika, when he moved to the industrial town after landing a  job there.

“A few days after settling down, I realised that sometimes there was a pungent smell in the  Makongeni area and its environs. I went looking for  the source and discovered that my new neighbourhood was surrounded by industrial companies, and the smell was from the waste coming from these companies,” he explains.

However, Mr Simon Ng’ang’a, the managing director of Granite Capital Ltd, a property and financial solutions company, says it is extremely  important to have a good surrounding.

 “Getting a home is a long-term investment that should be carefully planned and well thought out before implementation. Start planning early and do some research on the area you want to move to,” he says. “Scouting for a place to rent or even build a home should take not less than six months.”

However, many people might find that a long time and just move in or build in a rush, with drastic results, sometimes as serious as lifelong stress due to  environmental factors. Below are some of the things to look out for.

INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION

Industrial effluents are among the most common environmental pollutants. And notably, the establishment of county governments has led to an upsurge of industrial areas in most  of the big towns, leading to an escalation of the problem.

“Initially the whole of Kenya was not industrialised. But many places are now becoming industrialised, especially with the establishment of counties, and they want to attract investors. The land they are offering investos might not have been set aside for industrial development. And most of the time you find that the economic aspect  overriding all other interests or considerations,” says Mr David Ongare, the director of compliance at the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

So before you move into that house or buy that parcel of land, do a thorough research and find out about the zoning laws in the area so that you don’t rent a house, or worse still, build one, in an area where your nostrils will always assaulted by the stench of effluents from nearby factories.

RIPARIAN LAND

Areas adjacent to dams, streams, rivers, lakes and other water bodies are not suitable for putting up any type of building. While human encroachment has led to the exploitation of such areas, building close to these waterways comes with extremely high risks.

The heavy rains experienced in many parts of the country earlier this year clearly showed the damage hat can be done to buildings close to, or on, riparian land.

NOISE POLLUTION

More and more people are looking to live in peri-urban areas.  While for many such a move is aimed at  cutting down costs, for some it is also a search for a quiet and peaceful environment.

“Although I travel to Nairobi every day, I enjoy living in Kiambu because I enjoy a peaceful environment when I’m at home, especially on weekends,” says MrsLucy Maina, who is planning  to quit her job and start a business in Kiambu County.

Having been a resident of the crowded Pipeline estate in Nairobi County, Mrs Maina knows the effects of noise pollution and the  traffic jams only too well. “Most of the time getting into the city is a problem due to traffic. When it rains the problem is even worse as the snarl-up is even slower,” she says.

Meanwhile, for Rose Atieno, a mother of three living in Karen, a peaceful environment is particularly important if you have  young children.

“It is important to carefully consider the area that you want to live in  with your family. I want my children to grow up in an environment that is  serene, away from the noise pollution, or any form of distraction. When you leave the bustle of the city streets, you should be able to feel the difference when you get home,” she says.