As many people remain too selective on the kind of jobs to do and dream of hefty payment, Swaleh Shee Mwamalumbo decided to do things differently.
The 63-year-old started weaving traditional baskets in his early 30s.
He dropped out of school in Class 3. Without formal education, he couldn't secure any employment, therefore, he ventured into the traditional basket-making.
Then, his family didn't have money to pay for his education because of poverty. He is from Kinondo, Msambweni subcounty, Kwale county.
But he didn't lose hope in life or fault his family for not giving him an education.
He decided to stay strong and become creative for survival, and the idea of making traditional baskets struck his mind.
He inherited the skills from his father who also learnt from his great-grandfather.
According to Mwamalumbo, for success to come, one has to adapt to any challenge, improvise and overcome the situation.
Mwamalumbo has provided for his family for more than three decades through the basket business. He has two wives and four children who all depend on the basket business.
Mwamalumbo says he makes an average of Sh1,000 daily, which is enough for him and his family.
"Because of financial constraints nowadays I make between Sh1,000-Sh2,000 per day and sometimes even more," he said.
He said the charges vary, where a local pays less while a foreigner can be charged up to Sh5,000 per basket.
Mwamalumbo sells his baskets along Diani town and beaches targeting both local and international tourists.
He said the peak season is May, June and July, when he takes home thousands of shillings.
He said many people, especially locals confuse him for a madman because of the nature of his work not knowing the business pays more than what others earn in formal employment.
"As I walk around looking for material in bushes and carrying the baskets, people think I am insane because of my appearance," he said.
Mwamalumbo said people say "Huyu mzee amechizi nini? (Has this old man gone crazy?)".
He said locals have a notion that people doing such jobs are mentally ill and tend to think the money made through the basket business is not clean and as sweet as the ones made via decent permanent jobs.
Making it worse, for those who laugh at him, the majority are unemployed and are always complaining of lack of employment.
Mwamalumbo makes the baskets using raffia which is locally found along the Coast region.
Raffia is a palm tree-like with a short trunk and leaves which may be up to 60 feet long.
The raffia fibre is soft, pliable, strong and long-lasting and can be dyed using different colours to make weaved baskets, huts and rugs look beautiful.
The father of four said he sources the material by himself and sometimes buys it from colleagues at Sh350 a kilo.
He said the work requires determination because it is too involving and tiresome which most youth don't like.
Mwamalumbo said he rarely gets time to rest and always pushes himself beyond the limit to keep earning.
"If I don't work it means that day is wasted and I have two wives and children to look after," he said.
He said weaving needs a lot of patience since one has to dry up the material (raffia) for several days before embarking on the actual work.
The man said one basket can take up to four days to make since he needs to spare time to sell some and continue making others for a steady supply.
Mwamalumbo said sometimes, he gets orders where a person wants a specific design for birthday or wedding gifts.
The orders come mostly from foreigners who admire his hard work and creativity.
Mwamalumbo said through the basket business, he taught himself how to communicate in English since many clients come from abroad.
He brags that his English is good compared to some of the well-educated people living around him.
"I didn't go to school but speaking in English is not a problem," he said.
Mwamalumbo said two of his children have inherited his skills although they are doing different jobs but find time to weave in their free time.
He said the business is good but at the moment it is affected by too many rules and regulations.
Mwamalumbo said sometimes he is temporarily arrested for lacking a business permit and has to bail himself out.
He said climate change has also impacted negatively on his work because the material has become hard to find.
Mwamalumbo said the bushes have been cleared for development and they have to sweat for the raffia unlike before when it was easily found.
He said many young people are complaining about a lack of employment yet the jobs are there but require sacrifices.
Mwamalumbo said the young generation must embrace the use of hand-skill jobs to transform lives.
He said if he had thought like the rest of the people, he wouldn't have made it this far.
The old man said although he has amassed wealth, the basket business has made him manage his family and provide for both wives and children.
Mwamalumbo said he has no regret for trying to survive and he is a happy man.
