Valentine Chepkirui, a 26-year-old from Nairobi, made her dream of building a beautiful home for her parents in Kericho a reality with the support of her friends. The construction, which began in 2019, was completed by December 2021.
However, due to a lack of funds for furniture, Valentine had to delay the housewarming until Easter 2022. Despite this setback, she came up with a creative solution: she created a WhatsApp group to rally her friends for financial help.
“I had a few friends who knew I was building a house for my parents, but I couldn’t afford furniture. So, I set up a WhatsApp group, and together, my friends raised Sh. 250,000,” she explained.
With the funds raised, Valentine was able to furnish the home and officially open it during Easter 2022. “Thanks to their support, we were able to celebrate the house opening that Easter,” she said.
The idea of building her parents a house had been in the works since 2019, but at the same time, Valentine had set a personal goal of owning a car. In a selfless decision, she chose to prioritize her parents’ living conditions over her own desires.
“When I visited home, I couldn’t imagine parking a car next to my parents’ dilapidated house. That’s when I decided to build them a new home,” she recalled.
With little to no money in her bank account, Valentine committed to saving diligently each month. She sought support from her mother and sister, who both agreed to help fund the project. With Sh. 200,000 from her mother’s pension, construction officially began.
But the journey was far from easy. A year later, Valentine’s sister lost her job due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Her mother had a casual job, and her father was not working. But Valentine refused to halt the project.
“I told them we wouldn’t stop building the house, no matter the circumstances,” she said.
Despite these financial challenges, Valentine carried on with the construction while also supporting her three other sisters. After three years of hard work, the house was nearly finished. Thanks to the funds raised by her friends, Valentine was able to purchase essential appliances such as a fridge, a microwave, and stylish furniture to complete the home.
The housewarming in Easter 2022 was an emotional moment for Valentine’s mother, who couldn’t hold back her tears of joy. “We come from humble beginnings, and my mum never expected something like this would happen in her lifetime. I feel so blessed,” she said.
Valentine’s advice to others looking to build their own homes is simple: don’t listen to the doubters. “It won’t be easy. When we first started, some people doubted that we’d finish the project. Others even falsely assumed I had a sponsor helping me,” she said.
Her perseverance and determination in the face of adversity show that anything is possible with hard work, support, and unwavering belief in your goals.
