Nairobi, June 1 -- The first thing you notice when you walk into Njoki Gitahi's rented apartment in Kasarani is the sense that something alive is filling the room.

There are about 31 plants, arranged with care and knowledge of where each one belongs.

There is a zebra plant climbing towards the window, an echeveria in a terracotta pot with thick, architectural leaves, and a young pothos on the shelf that she bought in March, which is already outgrowing its spot. On the floor stand three snake plants with tall, striped leaves in pale green and gold.

"This space reflects who I am and what is in my heart," she says.

However, there is a particular kind of grief that comes with renting, especially in Nairobi, which is rarely spoken about di...