Kenyans are still talking about Ohangla maestro Prince Indah’s wedding to Winnie Nyarmigori, and clearly, many were impressed by the home where the wedding guests were hosted. TUKO.co.ke caught up with Winnie’s brother, David Okoth and his wife, Sophy Aluoch Otieno, the owners of the home. The two shared that they were happy to allow the celebrity and his wife to have their traditional wedding at the home that comfortably accommodated a huge crowd, cars, and several aircraft. Wnnie Nyar Migori, David Okoth’s sister. What are some of Migori home’s delightful features? While virtually ushering TUKO.co.ke into her home, Sophy shared that it boasts 13 rooms with 4 bedrooms, all en suite.
There is also a common bathroom in the living area on the ground floor. “The simba( children house) has a total of eight rooms, three bedrooms, two en suites and a common bathroom,” she said. “I also have three workers’ houses, which entail one bedroom each en suite with running water supply and two common bathrooms and toilets outside the houses are also present,” she added. US-based David Okoth and Sophy Aluoch Otieno. What is Aluoch’s home’s most outstanding feature? For Aluoch, one of the most outstanding features about her home is its landscaping, and many people who watched the wedding agreed with her; they gushed about its expansiveness and how it is well-manicured. “It took us three years to build and move in the property. The most outstanding features of the residence include the landscaping, choice of exterior paint colors and the organised layout of the property,” she said.
“We lost count of how much money we used to develop the property. All I can remember is that we ran out of money in the middle of construction and had to develop it pay check to pay check until one day it was finally over. We thank God!” she added. Aluoch said she remembers the landscaping expenses, which were roughly over KSh 2.5 million, including the cabro installation cost. Ariel view of the US-based couple’s home. Photo: Sophy. Source: UGC How much is 2.5 acres in Migori? According to Aluoch, the land in their village was fairly priced considering its proximity to the road. “It was around KSh 800,000 per acre and the whole property is on a 2.5 acres of land,” she said. Aluoch hailed her main fundi, John Okoth, for being reliable and trustworthy. She also praised Dorriex Odawa for the finishing and furnishings, and the late Oscar Omuom with his team, including Tyrus Oyare, for interior painting.
The landscaping work was done by William Washington, while the fencing and CCTV installation were done by Jeff. The furniture was imported and cleared by a logistics company. “There are several other project managers that were involved too,” she revealed. Dining room with unique suits. What challenges did Sophy and husband encounter? Among the challenges that Sophy encountered while building their home was sourcing building materials. “Apart from sand and landscaping soil, all other materials were sourced outside Migori county. The transportation costs added a lot of money in terms of the final unit costs. It was very depressing when a fundi underquoted the items and we had to purchase more materials,” she said. “Another challenge is theft of building materials. Once in a while we had to deal with some workers stealing building materials; it was a big setback. Building a house while away is very stressful but if you have trustworthy people who deliver the job the way you wanted it to be, you get the energy to keep going,” she said.
The couple, who also held their wedding at the venue, said that for a big project to succeed, one should take one step at a time. David Okoth and Sophy Aluoch Otieno and their children. Are village homes dead capital if the owners live abroad? According to Sophy, the issue of dead capital always came up in most discussions with friends and colleagues; some see it as a waste of money building a home in the rural area, especially when you already have one in the diaspora. “This issue depends on whether or not you have a goal of finally settling back home. Our main goal all along is to go back home one day and live there. That is the driving factor we had when developing the property,” she said. “We wanted it to be as comfortable as possible. Retirement in a highly developed country like United States has so many challenges that some of our people are going through. That is the reason why we decided to make the bridge while we are still young and able. Moreover, we visit home regularly and we have a large family,” she said.
David Okoth is Prince Indah’s brother in-law. She emphasised that it is wise to accommodate family in your own home. Additionally, the couple boasts businesses and developments in the rural area and would like to be close to them for easy management. “Finally, the rural home connects us to nature. There is a way that the green leafy environment and ecosystem give positive energy and life. I can’t imagine dealing with city life all my life,” she said. “I love the fact that I have a large space to host my friends and relatives. Our family comes from a big clan. Whenever we host big events, it makes it easier to accommodate everyone. That strengthens the bond we have with each other in the community. We welcome all!” she added. Aluoch had a message to everyone who has a dream, and that is to have faith and work towards it; any small effort put towards achieving it counts. “Just start small and focus on the ultimate goal. One day it shall come to pass and you will have a smile in your face. Never ever give up!” she said.
by Susan Mwenesi
