Akothee blasts critics opposing the idea of building rural homes

Kenyan musician and businesswoman Akothee (real name Esther Akoth) has joined in the debate on whether rural homes are actually dead capital.

Akothee, who owns a palatial home in Migori County, stated that those without homes in the countryside were the strongest opposers.

“People with No homes in the village are the ones convincing themselves that having a mansion in the village is a waste of money and a dead capital ,” she began.

Musician Akothee tends to her farm in Migori County. PHOTO/FILE

What do you call home?

The businesswoman went on to question the definition of a home to those opposing the idea of rural homes.

“Let me ask you ,where is your sanity and comfort? What do you call home? A huge rented mansion in a place you can’t relate? An apartment in a noisy city?” Akothee posed.

Akothee’s husband Denis Schweizer takes a tour around her Migori farm. PHOTO/FILE

Akothee reveals truth behind mansions

She however acknowledged that the cost of maintenance for the mansions back home was quite heavy.

“Let me tell you the disadvantage of having a huge mansion be it in the village or town. The cost of maintenance is more than the cost of building it, for your home to look like this, you must spend money to keep the face value,” Akothee added.

The mother of five advised those “looking for sanity” to invest their capital in the countryside by building a proper family home.

Akothee is actively engaged in farming activities within her rural home, despite flying in and out of the country on co-parenting duties and visiting her husband Denis Schweizer.

Now, while rural homes come in handy when one retires from their city job, it appears that dynamics have shifted due to tough economic times.

Retirees remain in the city

A report shared by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in April this year indicates that over 80% of people who hit retirement age are still in active employement.

Its quarterly jobs report revealed that 776,159 of 869,338 people above the age of 60 were in active employment in December 2022, representing 82.1 percent of the senior citizens in the country.

This means that the retirees, who would presumably be making their way to the countryside will remain in rental spaces within the towns for longer.