Bungalow

A bungalow keeps every room on the ground floor: living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. That makes it easy for older people and children, simple to extend, and popular with families building on their own land.

KNBS survey data reported by Nation found that most Kenyans would choose a bungalow if they were building or buying, even as developers build more maisonettes and apartments. A bungalow needs more land than a maisonette for the same floor area, so in expensive urban areas developers tend to build upwards, while bungalows dominate in Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu's outer areas and upcountry towns.

Bungalows come detached on their own plot, semi-detached or in terraces in estates. On Kenya Property Centre they are listed under houses as detached, semi-detached or terraced bungalows.

Building your own. Many Kenyans build a bungalow in stages on land they already own, starting with the main rooms and adding a DSQ or extension later. Approved building plans from the county are needed for each stage, and they matter later if you want to sell or use the house as security for a loan.

• Machakos, Kajiado and outer Kiambu: many new bungalows on their own plots, often built by owners themselves.
• Older Nairobi suburbs (Karen, Langata, parts of Westlands): large bungalows on big plots.
• Upcountry towns and rural areas: the most common family house type.