Morara Kebaso has given Kenyans a peek into one of his biggest construction projects, sharing before-and-after photos of the home he says he transformed for his estranged wife Mercy Makini’s parents in Gionseri, Bobasi, Kisii County.
And if the photos are anything to go by, the house has gone through quite the glow-up.
The original home was a simple mud structure with a corrugated iron roof, barred windows, and a bare compound. The new version is a brick house with a red roof, large black-framed windows, a staircase and a much greener compound.
A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado parked outside the new home also appears to complete the picture.
Morara names his fundis
Morara did not simply post the photos and disappear. He gave Kenyans what can only be described as the full construction shopping list.
He said his foreman was Joshua from Kisii, while Sammy from Nyeri handled the main fundi work. Andrew from Kakamega took care of the plumbing.
The activist said he sourced mabati from Ruiru, tiles from KEDA and gypsum services from Edwin. He also personally picked curtains from a supplier known as Husain in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
“I sourced the fundis myself. I built it up from foundation to finish and furnished it. I can even tell you where I bought everything,” Morara said.
He added that he travelled to Kisii almost every week to supervise the project, suggesting that he was not leaving the builders to freestyle.
Why he built for Mercy’s parents
Morara said the decision to build for Mercy’s parents before his own was deliberate.
“When I met Mercy this was her parent’s house. By then I had not built a house for my parents. But I made a decision that we will build for her parents first,” he said.
The house post comes as Morara and Mercy remain embroiled in a very public fallout, with both addressing issues surrounding their relationship.
Morara appeared to use the post to respond to criticism directed at him online, including calls for a boycott of a business linked to him.
He also questioned whether men who support their partners and families receive enough appreciation.
“What then do you say to a man like me who chose to support Mercy’s parents before his own parents? Wapi ile heshima kidogo mmebakisha ya wanaume kama mimi?” he asked.
The post has now added a rather unexpected chapter to the Morara and Mercy saga: construction, family and a very detailed receipt book of memories.