Nairobi, Sept. 7 -- It cost Nevy Jackson nearly Sh1 million to replace his lawn with artificial turf. After years of watering, weeding, trimming and top-dressing his Pemba grass, the landscaper decided that maintaining a natural lawn was more trouble than it was worth.

The 165-square-metre patch of high-end, European-quality artificial turf now covers part of the compound at his home, which he fondly calls Thee Mani Mansion, in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County.

The cost covered the turf, shipping, sand, ground preparation and labour, with some of those costs only becoming apparent as the project progressed.

"A square metre, including shipping, costs about Sh3,800," he explains. "Multiply by about 165, then add the other overheads. It actu...