People often look at him like a madman when he spends most of his time collecting glass bottles from trash around Ukunda in Kwale county.
Many would think he is wasting time but little do they know that Meshack Otieno is an ambitious entrepreneur who turns trash into cash.
Otieno, who is a lover of the environment and innovations, is taking advantage of old wine glass bottles which he recycles for refining and value addition.
Instead of letting the scrap glass bottles become an eyesore and a threat to the environment, Otieno uses them to make drinking water glasses, wine glasses, flower vessels, candle stands and lamp cases among other home decorators.
His work has earned him not only a name but also a fortune that has improved his living standard and that of his family.
"I know live in a good house, my children go to school and my family is happy," he said.
Kipawa is the name of Otieno's business, which has become popular in Ukunda after his hard work inspired many.
Kipawa means talent, and he named the business after his skill. Otieno is multi-talented.
He uses simple material but the end product is fascinating. Locals who visit his workplace get thrilled and find it hard to leave.
He cuts the bottles using a machine and designs them into various glass shapes which he sells to the locals and hotels.
One drinking glass ranges from Sh50 to Sh100 depending on the size.
"We use the base of glass bottles to make water glasses which go for Sh50, what we make from the middle part of the glass bottle goes for Sh80 and the top part which we use in making wine glass is Sh100," he said.
Otieno said he gets 100 per cent profit for every bottle because he finds them for free in streets and Diani beaches where tourists are fond of drinking wine.
He said by recycling the bottles he is not only saving oceans from disaster but also jobless youth from getting into criminal activities.
Otieno said sometimes he hires some youth to help collect the glass bottles' trash from streets, homes and beaches where they are in plenty.
Creativity
Otieno said he got the knowledge from the old primary school syllabus where they were taught art and craft.
He later modified the idea and instead of using the traditional method, he opted to look for a modern glass cutter.
Otieno said then, teachers would tell them to tie a bottle glass with rope, put paraffin and lit to split the glass into two.
He said with the increasing effects of climate change due to environmental pollution, he had been thinking of how he can help to save nature and earn something from the conservation activity.
Otieno said this inspired him to recycle wine glass bottles.
He said he chose the wine and spirits glass bottles because of their uniqueness in shape and because they are colourful.
"The wine glass bottles are always beautiful and can easily be found," he said.
The businessman said the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic made him more innovative and realised that self-employment is the way to go.
Otieno said the recycling of wine glass bottles has supported the efforts of environmental stakeholders to keep Diani streets and beaches clean.
He said his work is now being appreciated by people all over Kenya who interact with him through social media platforms.
Otieno said daily, he gets glass orders earning him thousands of shillings.
"There are those who call to have over 10 cartons of glass and some want home decorators with a few glasses and I rush to serve them on time," he said.
He said most of the customers are tourists who get fascinated with local things.
Otieno said some clients come with their own wine bottles and ask for services to have them redesigned into something unique.
Plans
Otieno dreams of expanding his business and forming a company.
He said his idea can provide employment to many jobless youths and curb criminal gangs.
"People are complaining that there are no jobs but I see a lot of opportunities in what I do," he said.
At the moment, Otieno has transferred the knowledge to his family. children and wife are now into the business.
The wife Gertrude Mbogo said she supports her husband because the business is great.
She said home visitors and relatives often fall in love with her kitchen because the drinking glasses beautify the house.
Mbogo said the business is also bringing a lot of income that helps run the family.
"We are happy, we get something after selling the glasses. It's a good initiative, I really like it," she said.
The son, Ian Kipron, said his father's business is helping him to top in class.
He said the business is in line with the competency-based curriculum where they are given assignments to design things.
Kipron said he does his own work using scrap glass bottles and teachers love his creativity.
"When given assignments I become the best because my work is always nice which adds to my good grades," he said.
Challenges
Otieno said he lacks enough capital to expand the business and buy modern equipment to perfect his work.
He said most of the work is done by hand which results in injuries and delays.
"If we had big machines we could be making and selling many glasses around Kwale and help minimise harm," he said.
An assistant Shadrack Kirui said he has severally cut himself with glasses while working.
He said sometimes, collecting the scrap bottle is a challenge as they lack money to hire a big workforce.
They now want national and county government to support their business and help provide employment opportunities to more youth in the region.
-Edited by SKanyara