The Half-Built Dream House
We’ve all seen it, haven’t we? You drive out to the family land in Ruiru, Kitengela, or somewhere off the Kangundo Road. There’s the main house, standing proud. Then, just a few metres away, there’s the “temporary” iron-sheet kitchen that has become permanent. Next to it, a makeshift mkokoteni-style structure storing building blocks and bags of cement that have hardened in the rain. Over there, the foundation for the proposed guest wing that was started five Christmases ago and is now a weed-filled pit.
This isn’t a failure of dream. This is a failure of plan.
At Lanny Builders, after three decades of shaping the Kenyan landscape, we’ve learned a central truth: the most common “disaster” in homebuilding isn’t a collapsed wall—it’s a collapsed budget and a fragmented vision. The dream of building the family shamba piece-by-piece, as money allows, is a beautiful and practical Kenyan reality. But without a masterplan, it descends into costly, inefficient chaos. You end up spending double—first on the temporary fix, then on the permanent solution.
That’s why we advocate for a different approach from the very first day you own that plot. We call it The Phased Masterplan. It’s not just about building a house; it’s about architecting your family’s future growth.
Phase 1: The Unshakeable “Core House” (The Foundation of Life)
The first phase isn’t about building as much as you can. It’s about building exactly what you need to live fully and comfortably, while locking in the future.
- The Goal: A completely liveable, high-quality 2-3 bedroom home with all essential services under one solid roof.
- The Professional Blueprint: This “core” is designed as the future heart of the estate. We site it strategically on the plot, not just for today’s views, but for where the future driveway, the main gate, and the extension wings will logically go. The plumbing and electrical systems are not just run for these three bedrooms; we “stub out” conduits and pipes in the walls, ready to connect to Phase 2 and Phase 3. The slab is reinforced to bear additional storeys. The roof is designed to extend seamlessly.
- Why It’s Genius: You move in, you start enjoying your land, and you stop paying rent elsewhere. Every shilling saved now goes towards the next phase. There are no temporary structures that become eyesores. You’ve built equity, not clutter.
Phase 2: The “Expansion Wing” & Income Stream (Building on Your Asset)
With the core house settled and lived in, Phase 2 is where strategy kicks in. This is often the guest wing or the children’s wing, but with a modern twist.
- The Goal: Add significant space and create a potential for passive income to fund future phases.
- The Professional Blueprint: We design this wing to be semi-autonomous. It has its own entrance, a small kitchenette, and its own plumbing stack. Why? Because for 5-10 years, this can be a high-quality Airbnb rental or a long-term let. It pays for its own construction loan and generates surplus. When your family eventually needs the space, a simple internal door is unlocked. We also finalise the main driveway, perimeter wall, and landscape garden in this phase, giving the entire property a finished, secure feel.
Phase 3: The “Legacy Amenities” (The Dream Realised)
This is the fruit of your patience. With the core home and income-generating wing established, you can now build the dream features without financial strain.
- The Goal: Integrate the spaces that define luxury and legacy: the large gourmet kitchen extension, the swimming pool, the entertainment mamabar, or the home office studio.
- The Professional Blueprint: Because we planned for this 10 years ago, these additions are not awkward afterthoughts. The water pressure system was sized for a pool pump. The sewer line was large enough for the extra bathrooms. The electrical panel has space for the additional load. The construction is smooth, integrated, and feels like it was always meant to be.
The Masterplan Document: Your Most Valuable Tool
The physical key to this is the single, comprehensive Masterplan document we create before a single foundation trench is dug. This isn’t just a sketch. It’s a full set of architectural and engineering drawings for the complete, final vision of your 20-year compound. Phase 1 is highlighted in bold colours; Phases 2 and 3 are in lighter tones. This document becomes your family’s roadmap to generational wealth.
It prevents the “jua kali extension” that devalues your property. It ensures every brick laid today is a stepping stone to tomorrow’s dream, not an obstacle to be demolished. It turns a series of stressful construction projects into a calm, confident journey.
Stop Building in Circles. Start Building a Legacy.
The true mark of experience isn’t just building a beautiful house. It’s orchestrating a beautiful process that respects your finances, your family’s needs, and your long-term vision. At Lanny Builders, we build with tomorrow already in mind.
Ready to plan your shamba’s future, not just its foundation? Let’s draw your Masterplan.
Lanny Builders Limited – Building Your Future, Phase by Phase.
