Jua Kali artisans Kevin Okoth and his wife, Hellen Njoka Okoth. They have been running their small carpentry workshop in Kericho Town for the past four years. /PHOTO: KNAKevin Okoth, aged 31, and his wife Hellen Njoka Okoth, aged 28, have been running their small carpentry workshop for the past four years, steadily building a name for themselves in the community.
Okoth spoke to KNA and said he began working as a carpenter six years ago, learning the trade through hands-on experience, while his wife Njoka, was introduced to the craft while assisting in her father’s Jua Kali workshop.
He said their combined skills and determination eventually led them to start their own business as a family which has been working perfectly for them.
Together as a couple they specialise in making beds, chairs, tables, shoe racks, and painting furniture, adding that their work is fully handmade and customer-driven.
He disclosed that on average they make at least Sh 8,000 a day, which sustains their family and the small team of four young people they have employed.
“We started from scratch with only our skills. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve kept going, and customers have appreciated our creative work, and now our masterpieces are on demand,” Okoth explained.
Due to the high demand for the furniture they make, he said, they are now in the process of acquiring better tools and expanding their work station to cater to the growing demand, especially for sofa sets and beds.
"We are also planning to increase the number of employees for efficiency. We prefer taking in passionate people who we can train practically," Okoth said.
Meanwhile, Njoka, as a woman in a male-dominated trade, said she deals with an extra layer of challenges, like being undermined by clients and peers, many doubting if she can handle physically demanding tasks, but said she proved them wrong by producing high-quality masterpieces that satisfied her customers.
“Sometimes people don’t take me seriously, but I’ve learned to stay strong and keep doing my best, and with time the notion is changing, people are gradually appreciating my work, ” Njoka said
Njoka explained that she understood the importance of work-life balance even as she goes about her busy schedule of creating quality woodwork, saying her family responsibilities are also part of priorities.
"I ensure my family is well taken care of; I create time to be with my children and help them with homework, So I have mastered how to balance work and family time" added Njoka
She encouraged more women and youth to join the Jua Kali sector, emphasizing the value of honesty, hard work, and independence, saying there is contentment in being busy and earning something for yourself rather than being dependent on someone.
As the couple thinks of a bright future and plans of setting up a fully equipped workshop, opening new branches, and employing even more youth, their story is a testament to the strength of skill, determination, and partnership in overcoming adversity.
