Locations
By Martin Namasaka
The air inside Yvonne Nyokabi’s home feels different. It moves freely, unburdened—light, crisp, almost weightless. In a quiet corner, a ‘Peace Lily’ stands tall, its broad leaves absorbing impurities, purifying the space. It’s as if Yvonne’s home breathes with it, inhaling toxins and exhaling purity. The Peace Lily, with its name rooted in peace and prosperity, feels like a quiet manifesto of Yvonne’s work: to create spaces that are not just sustainable, but regenerative spaces that give back more than they take.
Outside, an overgrown ‘Old Man’s Beard’ drapes lazily over a tree branch, its silvery tendrils swaying in the breeze. It’s wild, untamed, and yet perfectly at home in her compound—a reminder that nature, when allowed to thrive, finds its own balance.
“I love how effortless they are,” Yvonne says, turning a wiry air plant tendril between her fingers. “They don’t demand much. They just exist, adapting to their space, making the most of whatever comes their way.”
It’s a philosophy she brings into her work in green construction. Like these plants, sustainable buildings should exist in harmony with their environment—breathing, adapting, thriving without excess. In Kenya, where rapid urbanization is pressing against the limits of natural resources, Yvonne is championing an age-old yet revolutionary solution: sustainable wood.
As I settle into a seat, surrounded by the quiet elegance of plants suspended midair, I realize we are about to have a conversation not just about green construction, but about balance—about working with nature instead of against it.
Walking into this room feels like stepping into a tiny floating forest. Air plants everywhere—hanging, twisting, clinging to driftwood like little green acrobats. You clearly have a thing for them. What’s the story?
(Laughs) Oh, I’m obsessed! Air plants are just so fascinating. They don’t need soil—can you imagine? They just hang out, pulling moisture straight from the air, thriving in the most unexpected places. They’re like the ultimate survivors: renewable, adaptable, and effortlessly beautiful. Honestly, that kind of beautiful, is what we need in our construction industry right now.
Kenya’s population is growing so fast. By 2050, we will have nearly 95 million people, and by 2100, that number could hit 142 million. That’s a lot of homes, schools, and offices to build. How do we do that without wrecking the planet?
It’s a huge challenge, isn’t it? We need materials that are renewable, efficient, and kind to the climate. And one of the best answers is right in front of us—sustainable engineered wood. It’s like the perfect blend of old and new: traditional knowledge meets modern technology. Wood is renewable, it stores carbon instead of emitting it, and when it’s engineered, it’s incredibly strong and versatile. It’s not just about building; it’s about building a future that works with nature, not against it.
Kenya has committed to championing sustainable wood in construction, even pledging alongside 17 other nations at COP28. But wood has always been part of traditional building methods here. What makes this different?
That’s true—wood has always been part of our heritage. But today, we have something even better: engineered wood products. Think of them as the modern version of traditional timber, but stronger, more durable, and able to replace concrete and steel in major buildings.
These aren’t just planks of timber; we’re talking about materials like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue laminated timber. These wood products are designed to be fire-resistant, termite-proof, and incredibly strong, hence able to replace steel and cement, in multi-storey buildings.
Plus, Kenya is already making huge commitments to afforestation—15 billion trees by 2032, out of which it has earmarked 750,000 hectares under commercial forestry. This signifies a huge opportunity for new industries, such as engineered wood products, which we currently import. Through value addition in-country, we are not only talking about balance of trade, but also creating new opportunities for green jobs and youth employment.
An aerial view of reforested areas of Kaptagat forest
That sounds promising! But even with all these benefits, there’s still a gap between policy and implementation. What’s stopping Kenya from fully embracing sustainable wood in construction?
It’s a mix of things. Our building code now recognizes wood for multi-storey purposes, but industry players including financiers and insurers, have yet to see it as a permanent building materials, hence hesitant to finance wood-based construction projects.
Then there’s the wood supply issue—Kenya currently has a 10.3 million m³ deficit. Even if demand for sustainable wood skyrocketed, we simply don’t have enough to meet it. Currently, the commercial forest estate, stands at 150,000 hectares against the potential of 750,000 hectares, most of which is under the jurisdiction of Kenya forest services. Unlocking these potential demands increased investments by the private sector. Private sector not only have a role in expanding the commercial forest estate but also in processing. Countries such as Sweden that have sustainable wood industries, boast of processing efficiencies of approximately 70%. Our wood processing efficiency in Kenya is only at 30%, due to outdated technologies. We’re losing so much potential value before the wood even gets to the market.
Tell us a little more about what you saw in Sweden?
Last year, I had the privilege of visiting Sweden for the Wood Life Exposure tour. With 70% of the country covered in forests, wood isn’t just a construction material—it’s a way of life.
One of the standout visits was to Södra, Sweden’s largest forest owners' association. It’s a collective of 53,000 private forest owners, each with their own estate. Individually, their forests might be small, but together, they form the largest private landholding in southern Sweden. Södra isn’t just about owning forests—it’s about managing them sustainably and ensuring long-term value.
I was struck by their forward-thinking approach. Södra’s founder, Gösta Edström, put it best back in 1938:
"We don’t know today how forest products will be used in the future. Make sure you don’t stand empty-handed when that day comes."
Their tagline—"Rooted in the forest, we grow the future"—is more than just words. It’s a mindset. A commitment to generational renewal and innovation. And that’s something Kenya can learn from.
Yvonne (centre) in Sweden during the Wood Life Exposure Tour
So what’s the plan? How do we make this transition a success?
We need a solid strategy, and I call it the 5Ps—Policy coherence, Production at scale, Processing efficiency, Piloting, and Popularizing.
- Policy coherence – The building code needs an update so wood is recognized as a mainstream construction material, not a temporary one.
- Production at scale – We need more commercial forests, better genetic resources, and incentives for tree growers.
- Processing efficiency – Investing in tech to improve our current 30% efficiency and maximize our wood supply.
- Piloting – Showcasing wood in real projects—government housing, offices, schools—so people can see the benefits firsthand.
- Popularizing – Changing perceptions through education. We need architects, engineers, and everyday Kenyans to see wood as a safe, modern, and sustainable choice.
Countries like Sweden, Guatemala, and Zanzibar are already leading the way. Sweden doubled its forest cover while industrializing, and Zanzibar is building The Burj Zanzibar, the world’s tallest timber building. Kenya has every reason to be at the forefront of this movement in Africa.
People still have concerns about durability, termites, and cost. How do we address those?
Those concerns are valid, but they’re based on old ways of thinking.
Engineered wood is fire-resistant, termite-treated, and structurally stronger than traditional timber. In fact, wood performs better than concrete in earthquakes because it’s flexible.
As for cost, it’s all about scaling up production. Right now, it’s expensive because demand is still low. But the more we use it, the more affordable it becomes. Just look at solar energy—ten years ago, it was considered expensive. Today, solar panels are everywhere. The same can happen with sustainable wood.
Overall, charting a course toward a greener future in Kenyan construction demands implementing strict forestry regulations, investing in local communities, fostering public-private partnerships, incentivizing the use of sustainable wood in construction, enhancing market access and consumer awareness, and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Final question. You clearly love your air plants. If sustainable wood were a plant, which one would it be?
(Laughs) Oh, it would absolutely be an air plant!
Think about it:
- Air plants don’t need soil—just like sustainable wood doesn’t need an overcomplicated infrastructure to be useful.
- They pull what they need from the air—just like wood stores carbon instead of emitting it.
- They adapt to their surroundings and thrive in unexpected places—just like wood can be used in everything from affordable housing to skyscrapers.
- And when the time is right, they bloom in the most stunning, unexpected ways—just like a well-planned, green city will!
I glance around Yvonne’s home again. The air plants, the Peace Lily, the overgrown tendrils of Old Man’s Beard swaying outside—they are quiet reminders that nature doesn’t need to be tamed to be useful. It just needs space to thrive.
And just like that, the future of green construction makes perfect sense.
Yvonne during a visit to a small sawmill in Landsbro, Sweden
