Nairobi, June 15 -- Mary Kageni, a homeowner in Gikambura, Kikuyu, dreads rainy seasons. Each gathering cloud signals, but the likelihood of fresh damage to her flat-roofed house. A leaking roof has become the most punishing aspect of her homeownership.

She picked a hidden roof design because of its minimalist beauty, and the architect supported her choice, adding lower cost to the list of advantages attributable to the design.

But since she moved in, she has struggled with one leaking point after another, and she is wondering whether it has got to do with the design of the roof or poor workmanship.

"I have actually been thinking about changing the whole roof, especially when you go online and read all the concerns that other people ra...