Being a form four leaver did not stop Yusuf Toya from building a car from scratch using recycled metals. The vehicle is now estimated to be worth Ksh1 million shillings and has attracted many potential buyers.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Background
Yusuf Toya is a Jua Kali artisan based in Ukunda, Kwale county. In an interview that aired on 4th June 2022 on TV47, Yusuf Toya revealed that immediately he cleared his secondary school education, he ventured into the Jua Kali industry.
“I learnt welding while I was working at my uncle’s jua kali shop. Later on, I opened my own shop. Unlike what people think, I did not go to any engineering class and I have learnt all these from experience,” he said.
Building a Vintage Car
After opening his own jua kali shop, Toya embarked on a journey to locally assemble his own car. The vehicle’s design was inspired by the Mini Moke design model which was quite popular in the 1960s. He spent a total of Ksh200,000 to finish building the vehicle that has become a sensation with locals and tourists.
“The car is very attractive and most people alight from their vehicles to come and see it. The good thing about this car is that it can go for long distances because I put a radiator and temperature gauges among other important parts of the car,” he explained.
Speaking to the media house, Toya urged the government to invest in the artisan industry stating that the sector could potentially employ many young people. He further commended the government for the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) noting that children are able to discover their talents at an early stage.
“Right now people are crying about unemployment and all they need is motivation. I never imagined that I would have my car running on the road but as you can see today, it is out there. The same can apply to them,” he said.
One of the residents of Ukunda applauded Toya for his innovation revealing that the vehicle was once used as an ambulance to take a pregnant woman to the hospital.
