In the bustling town of Chebole in Sotik, Bomet County, the symphony of hammers striking iron and the rhythmic dance of sparks from a welding machine echo through the neighborhood.
At the heart of this cacophony is Nicholas Biego, a man with protective eye gear, directing a blazing fire towards a curved iron sheet.
With expert precision, he meticulously works on crafting water bowsers and trailers, turning his dreams into reality.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Nicholas’s journey began when he decided to abandon formal education after completing his primary school examinations at Olmanyata primary school in 1998.
Armed with determination and a desire to make something of himself, he ventured into various business endeavors, starting as a mason and then a maize trader.
Eventually, he found himself in the scrap metal business, where he discovered his flair for transforming discarded metal into valuable assets.
From that modest Ksh5,000 investment, Nicholas built his scrap metal venture into a thriving enterprise.
But he didn’t stop there; his ambitions soared higher.
The demand for water bowsers and trailers inspired him to take on the challenge of fabricating these metallic products, which were in high demand across multiple neighboring counties like Kericho, Narok, Nakuru, Nyamira, Kisii, Siaya, and the Western region.
Typically, he manages to sell around seven tanks per month, with a 4,000-litre tank priced at Ksh230,000, while the larger 10,000-litre tank fetches Ksh650,000. Additionally, he sells approximately five trailers each month, with each trailer retailing at about Ksh240,000.
Nicholas’s belief in the power of a brilliant idea and meticulous planning guided his every move.
He had an innate aptitude for mathematics, and this proved advantageous in ensuring precise measurements and angles during fabrication.
“Getting correct measurements and angles in the fabrication enterprise has never been a challenge since maths was my favourite subject,” he said during an interview with Business daily.
He refused to let his lack of formal education hinder his path to success; instead, he allowed his passion and dedication to pave the way.
With time, Nicholas expanded his enterprise, employing more workers to meet the increasing demand for his products.
His employees became like family, and he ensured their dedication and loyalty by providing good pay and a supportive work environment.
He understood that a satisfied workforce is a crucial factor in the growth of any business.
However, challenges were never far behind.
The high cost of electricity posed a significant obstacle to Nicholas’s operations.
He was determined to make his voice heard, advocating for government subsidies tailored to support cottage industries like his.
“The government should provide subsidies specifically tailored for cottage industries so that workshops like ours can pay less for electricity to spur economic growth and create employment. Generally, a conducive environment for informal sectors to flourish should be created,” Siad Mr Biego who pays an average of Ksh50,000 monthly for electricity supply to the workshop.
A more conducive environment for informal sectors to flourish was essential for the nation’s economic growth and job creation, he argued.
Another hurdle he faced was finding skilled workers.
Despite the abundance of academic qualifications, practical skills were scarce.
Many job applicants failed to match their colorful academic papers with the rigorous demands of the workshop.
Nicholas remained committed to nurturing local talent and providing opportunities for the youth to develop practical skills.
Through referrals and word of mouth, Nicholas’s business flourished. He relied on a network of satisfied clients who sang his praises, bringing in more orders and expanding his reach.
His dreams for the future included upgrading his workshop with machines to improve efficiency while maintaining the focus on craftsmanship.
