Laikipia County
Building in Ol Pejeta and Matanya
The land west and south of Nanyuki towards the conservancy has been subdivided heavily over the past few years. It is open, it has space and views, and almost everything the house needs has to be brought to it.
What people are building here
- Off grid family homes and weekend houses
- Holiday cottages and small camps
- Container and cabin units as first buildings on new plots
What changes the design and the price in Ol Pejeta and Matanya
Off grid by default
Most of these plots have no mains water and no power at the boundary. Budget for solar with storage, tanks, harvesting and a septic system or biodigester from the start. That package commonly adds one and a half to four million shillings.
Black cotton soil is common
Much of this land is black cotton, which swells when wet and shrinks when dry. It moves enough to crack a house built on a shallow strip foundation. It also turns a track into a trap for a loaded lorry within an hour of rain.
Wildlife and boundaries
Conservancy neighbours mean fencing is a serious line item and stores need to be animal proof. It is worth deciding early whether you are fencing the whole plot or only the homestead.
Approvals
Laikipia County approves the plans. Plots close to conservancy land may attract additional environmental conditions, and a borehole needs Water Resources Authority permits regardless of where you are.
What materials cost here
Our base. Stone comes from the Laikipia and Meru quarries, sand mostly from the Ewaso Ng'iro and Timau side. Cement and steel come up from Nairobi or Nakuru, which is the main reason materials here sit a little above Nairobi yard prices.
Have a plot in Ol Pejeta and Matanya?
Send us the location and roughly what you want to build. We will visit, look at the ground and come back with an honest figure.