This was the other very important building in a Nyandarua homestead, and every family had one. Be it made of mud walls, timber or iron sheets depending on the families financial ability, every family had one. With the high yields harvested from the Nyandarua farmlands, it was important to have a space to store the produce, short and long term.
The granaries were best constructed raised a few feet off the ground so that the very cold temperatures did not damage the harvest. Raised floors also meant unwanted insects and pests did not infest the harvest. This was important because with the one maize season per year, families needed to keep their maize for almost one year before the next harvest. A good granary was therefore well ventilated to reduce humidity inside the granary to prevent molding and rotting of the harvest especially in the freezing Nyandarua temperatures.
With the raised granary, families often used the space below as a chicken coop (kiaga kia nguku). All they did was put chicken wire mesh all around the raised part of the granary, and instantly you had a safe place for the chicken to lay eggs and sleep at night.
