Peter Mbugua, aged 75, is a jua kali artisan residing in Kericho Town.
His nearly forty-year journey exemplifies resilience, creativity, and dedication to his craft, as well as to the requirements of the Majengo, Nyagacho, and Eland estates.
Mbugua states that he has devoted a significant portion of his life to repurposing materials into charcoal ovens, frying pans, and piggy banks.
“Some of the items I make such as piggy banks encourage the younger generation to save and prepare for the future,” he said.
The endeavor that commenced in the early 1980s has evolved into a rewarding profession that not only sustains his family but also advocates for environmental sustainability.
“I am now a grandfather of many and this job has helped me educate all my children. It has been a very fulfilling journey that I will continue with my wife for as long as we are alive and strong,” he said.
Mbugua has successfully educated all four of his children, each of whom has completed their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, through his innovative endeavors.
Furthermore, in addition to producing metal goods, Mbugua is repurposing car tires to manufacture the increasingly popular chicken coops.
“I’ve trained and helped many of my employees to start their jua kali businesses. The youth need to find creative ways to earn a living and if they can embrace technical skills in this creative industry, the unemployment crisis in the country will be resolved,” he said.
Mbugua has successfully engaged in environmental conservation through the recycling of materials.
“Metal waste poses a significant environmental threat, polluting soil and endangering ecosystems hence the need to put them into good use,” he said.
Mbugua called on the government to allocate resources towards the training of youth, enabling them to acquire essential technical skills that would promote self-employment within the informal sector.
“On a good day, I make more than Ksh 15,000 in sales and so I have no regrets. Fabrication is a good business that the youth can try out and make a good living from,” he said.
Mbugua asserts that sustainable practices can flourish even in urban environments where space is constrained.
Recently, he embarked on poultry farming, which he reports has been quite profitable for him.
Mbugua serves as an inspiration to countless individuals aspiring to enter the jua kali sector.