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Quitting Office Work to Pursue Making Brand-New Leather Shoes

Samuel Nkuru is a Laikipian who uses his skill to make all types of shoes from leather to brand new ones. This is something he started back in 1986.

His motivation came from men from his home area who were making shoes and repairing them, an exercise he greatly admired. His strong passion for leather saw him drop out of Ikuu Boys High School.

However, his parents believe that without education someone will not make it in life, something that Nkuru learned the hard way when the parents failed to support him for his decision.

I would skip classes and join the polytechnic during lesson time just to gain skills on how to make shoes.said Nkuru.

The entrepreneur narrates how he once got a job at Jikaze Millers where he earned good money for 10 years but his passion was in making shoes, thus ended up following his interest and quitting the job.

Nkuru makes shoes from leather skin and any other materials. Despite being Laikipia produces a large amount of leather, the cost of buying it is very high since it is not processed in the county. One square meter of leather goes for about Ksh. 120. The production cost of one shoe depends on its time and also its size. Mr. Nkuru sells his shoes both at retail price and wholesale. He receives orders from Nairobi and Mombasa mostly by wholesalers. His product is named ‘ Ikulu shoes a product made in Laikipia’ .

Mr. Samuel Nkuru in his workshop in Nanyuki town. He has been interested in making leather products since his high school days

In a day I can produce a minimum of 10 pairs of shoes while working alone. I have taught more than 10 people and released them to go and start their own business.

I have two people who I have employed, one for working on repairs and the other one who helps me in making the new shoes. Sometimes the order is big that we have to work till late, he commented.

Mr. Nkuru advises parents to allow their kids to follow their passion citing that technical jobs also pay just like any other job. He left a white-collar job as we call them for his passion.

The entrepreneur laments that the market is saturated by imported products making it hard for local products to endeavor. Buying quality local products will help the county become fully industrialized.

Car Parks Changing Laikipia Towns’ Economy, Face

Towns in Laikipia are clearly changing face to accommodate more economic growth as construction of car parks by the county government shows its impact. The County Government of Laikipia through the Road Maintenance Levy Fund(RMLF) projects program has constructed and renovated more parking areas for cars in different towns in the county. From 2019 to 2021, it has put more than 1,000 parking volume capacity on the county tarmac roads of Nanyuki, Nyahururu, and Ol Jabet among other towns.

The standard car parks are 16 to 18 feet long and 8 to 9 feet wide which is about 160 square feet marked with a clear long-lasting white or yellow line enabling clear visibility. Restrictions, signs, and road controls such as the parking areas for the physically challenged, alternate-side parking, and coupon parking have been done to prevent any careless parking by the drivers.

The parking slots and areas for the disabled are now visible as new colors have been added and different areas of parking have been marked very clearly. The spacing of the parking areas is enough for cars to move in and out easily. said Paul Mwanaki, a driver in Nanyuki town.

Boston House in Nyahururu Law Court

Measures are in place to ensure that the rules are being followed and penalties accorded to those who violate them. The county government has also lifted some weight to its people, according to the Laikipia County Finance Act no. 1, Section iii, 18 (2021).

Parking fee shall not be payable the whole day on Sunday, Public holidays and after 2.00 pm on Saturdays.

The strategic planning of the car parks has promoted businesses as now people can confidently park cars along the roads near their businesses with guaranteed safety. This has attracted many investors, especially in urban areas.

Since the parking was constructed the number of people coming to this area has increased and they have been promoting my trade business at a greater rate. My shop is also clean nowadays as the dust that used to be there is no longer a problem.said Rachael Wairimu, a businesswoman at Nanyuki Old Market Area.

Laikipia Innovator Helping Curb Burglary Remotely

Elijah Mungurwe, an innovator in Laikipia, has created a remote power unit control device that switches on and off lights when one is away from home. According to him, theft cases in his neighboring villages were the main inspiration for this invention.

It was during the Christmas festivals and together with my family, we wanted to travel to the village. I was stressed since my family is young hence no one would be left behind to take care of our households. describes Mr. Mungurwe on how it all began.

His technology mostly curbs those who wait until there is no one at home to take advantage of that time to steal poultry, households, sheep among other things.

He says the design of the device was unpleasing and the wires were scary hence no one would be willing to install such a device in their house.

It was not until April 2021 that one of my brothers-in-law gave me the idea of commercializing the device. However, the many wires made it huge and unappealing. said Mungurwe.

The device has a working voltage of 220-240v and uses the alternating current(AC). It works well at a temperature of 20c-80c.

The internal sim card only receives SMS commands from one admin only for security purposes and helps in switching on and off security lights and internal lights using a simple SMS code from any type of phone. The device can switch on specified sockets within the house like a TV system, cooker unit, shower, and tank water pumping system to scare away a potential burglar.

When one is traveling it is possible to leave the lights on but it’s just a matter of time for the home breakers to realize since the lights will be on during the day and the power cost will go high. stated Mungurwe.

The county government of Laikipia through the innovation program has been walking a journey with innovators by helping them achieve their goals and protect their projects. Mr. Mungweru is in the process of joining the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Program.

Warwick Hotel: Game Changer in the Hospitality Sector

There is nothing that attracts investors more than secure, political goodwill, and a general conducive environment – Laikipia is a witness to this reality.

Several businesses have opened up in the last five years, ranging from financial institutions and supermarkets to Hotels and Industries.

The most recent and one-of-a-kind investment is The Warwick Hotel Nanyuki which has brought new life to the town.

Opened on the New Year’s Eve, the hotel has seen more customers visit to have a taste of their unique products and services.

According to the General Manager, Wallace Chege, the reason for customers wanting to visit the restaurant is because of the fair prices they are charging compared to the standards of services available.

We are offering five-star services at a three-star rate. said Mr. Chege.

Situated just around 50 meters from the famous Equator signage as one enters Nanyuki, the high-end enterprise provides a clear view of Mount Kenya, especially from the top floor which is covered in clear glass to allow the customers to enjoy the view without any hindrance.

Another thing making the enterprise more appealing to even the locals is the fact that they are buying their products from the local markets and slaughterhouses a mantle that is being promoted by the County Government of Laikipia. Through Buy Laikipia, Build Laikipia, the county is encouraging the consumption of products and services
from within the county.

This is in the spirit of believing that Laikipia products are of high quality and thus one needs to only import what Laikipia lacks.

The 78-roomed hotel has four mega-conference rooms, three medium ones, and four smaller ones used as boardrooms.

The largest conference room holds up to 100 people sitting following the COVID-19 regulations, while the medium ones hold 50, still while following the guidelines.Mr. Chege said.

On the ground floor is the main restaurant named Hibiscus and a rooftop bar called Ikwetta Sky Lounge with a DJ.

A SPA area with a modern gym also exists with a trainer to help people keep fit and a massage parlor. Alongside this is a swimming pool with a pool garden and a poolside choma zone.

The Warwick Hotel Nanyuki has created direct job opportunities to 40 individuals, 80 percent of whom come from Laikipia. The aim is to reach at over 80 employees in the near future as the business keeps growing.

During the construction, 150 people at any given moment relied on the enterprise, only unique expertise was sourced. Also, the majority of the products came from the local hardware, not from the city.

Laikipia CECs Approve Guidelines for Rebates on Electricity, Distribution Costs For Local Manufacturers

In an unprecedented move, Laikipia County Executive Committee has approved guidelines for supporting the local manufacturing sector by giving rebates on electricity and product distribution costs.

The move is aimed at supporting the manufacturing sector in Laikipia to become globally competitive to be able to grow the economy and create more employment opportunities.

The committee chaired by Governor Ndiritu Muriithi last week identified 18 manufacturing fields that will benefit from the rebates program whose objective is to lower the cost of production for locally-manufactured goods.

The manufacturers will enjoy a rebate of 30 percent of their monthly electricity bills with a ceiling of Kshs.100,000 and 50 percent on annual bills with a ceiling of Kshs. 50,000.

According to Finance Executive Murungi Ndai, the county government will also foot 30 percent of the permit and other multiple licenses that local manufacturers are charged to distribute their products in other counties.

These guidelines are in line with the Public Finance Management (Laikipia County Business Legislative Supplement No. 4 – the regulation) and the Programme-based Budget for 2021/22. Mr. Ndai said.

The sectors targeted for the rebate include the manufacture of textiles, apparel, food, beverages, tobacco, leather and its products, wood and wood products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and botanical products, rubber and plastic products.

Others are the manufacture of non-metallic products, fabricated metal products, electronic, optical products, and electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, trailers, and other transport equipment, furniture, other manufacturing, mining, and quarrying.

To enjoy the rebates, manufacturers will be required to provide proof that the content or materials for their production are obtained locally, the external competitors, among other parameters. They are also expected to demonstrate the outcome of their requested rebate in terms of lowered prices of their products, market penetration, sales or revenue growth, job creation projections, or any other positive outcome.

Promoting Laikipia as the Preferred Filming Destination

Laikipia County is tapping on the unique natural and man-made features that can bring proper images in films.
The county government is calling on all the stakeholders in the filming industry to take advantage of these features and film in the county.

According to the Director of Tourism and Filming Services, Laiyanta Kimiri, the county government will not charge anyone filming in the county, something that otherwise would cost the filmmakers millions of shillings.

The County Government of Laikipia has agreed to promote filming talent by ensuring those who do so within the county borders are not charged a coin unless those doing it in private properties, of which we can still negotiate. said Director Kimiri.

The aim of taking these deliberate efforts is to sell the good name of Laikipia while still selling it to the larger world as a good place for filmmaking. Also, this will create many job opportunities for the locals as the government works towards realizing the creation of 30,000 jobs manifesto pillars. It will also help in documenting Laikipia County, the people’s culture and diversity, economic activities, and administration. By so doing, investors will be attracted to the many opportunities that the county has to offer and showcase Laikipia as an ideal destination for film production.

We want Laikipia to become the Texas of Kenya as we compete with other counties. commented Kimiri, who is also the liaison person for KFC in Laikipia.

Many world-famous films such as Born Free, Living Free, Forever Free, Walking with Lions, and Lion King, have been shot in Kenya and some in Laikipia.

The department intends to capacity build all the stakeholders through holding quarterly capacity building sessions for film professionals, from primary and secondary schools, drama clubs in schools in collaboration with the KFC. There will also be Masterclasses for filmmaking classes offered by professionals from Kenya and across the world. Workshops will also be held on production, scriptwriting, directing, content distribution, film policy to train upcoming filmmakers on the essential skills to have in this sector.

The four areas of funding are Development, production, marketing and distribution, and emerging filmmakers funding.

The government also plans to be hosting the annual Film festival/Cultural Expo and hold monthly Film Nights for Kenyan films will see local films screened in various locations within the county.

Art and cultural center is coming up in the county where art exhibitions and various cultural events can be held.

Research has shown that in Kenya, the film industry is estimated to be having the potential to generate Ksh. 200 billion annually. Of course, Laikipia takes a huge percentage from the Kshs. 200 billion, which shows the need to promote such an exercise within the county.

The County Government of Laikipia is partnering with the Kenya Film Commission to make this dream a reality through an MoU.

Filmmaking involves a number of discrete stages including an initial story, idea, or commission, through screenwriting, casting, shooting, sound recording, and reproduction editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and exhibition.

Laikipia notable filmmaking features

The Black Panther

Laikipia County has been recognized as one of the jewels in Kenya’s Safari crown for its wealth of endangered species. The county has been recognized again as the home of Black Panther(five confirmed) which is a rare black leopard, pictured by cameras after 100 years.

Physical Landscape

The beautiful landscape of Laikipia which is located on the equator and bordered by the Great rift valley to west offers a good view of Aberdare ranges to the East and Mt. Kenya to South East with Ewaso Nyiro river and tributaries flowing from South to North through the landscape giving beautiful sceneries like Thomson Falls, Manguo hippo point offers the best destination for filming.

With an exhilarating wilderness, scenic landscape, Laikipia plateau, the iconic backdrop of Mt. Kenya, abundant wildlife, the equator, the historic Nanyuki town, and cultural diversity, we can be an ideal film making destination.

The climate and vegetation in Laikipia give integration of livestock and both endangered and indigenous wildlife.

The rolling hills and slopes of Loldaiga to the North give beautiful mountains and big rocks that provide an epic view of the Laikipia plateau e.g. The Lion King movie was shot in Laikipia North. It also gives the best locations for lodges which gives awesome views of the plateau.

Laikipia to Host Africa Industrialization Week

The Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development has chosen Laikipia as the host of the African Industrialization week.

Laikipia to Host Africa Industrialization Week

The week will be observed between November 15 ^th – 20 ^th this year in Nanyuki. The state department of industrialization is riding on the success of Laikipia’s model of supporting the growth of SMEs which is gaining traction nationally.

The model has managed to entrench itself into the political debates ahead of the General Election, as presidential aspirants seek to address the issue of an inclusive economy and what the government can do to realize the growth of micro-enterprises.

On September 26, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was on a three-day tour of Laikipia was impressed by an exhibition of a range of ‘made-in-Laikipia’ products by some of Laikipia SMEs under the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Programme (LIEDP).

I am happy to see the Laikipia county government under the leadership of Governor Ndiritu Muriithi making deliberate efforts to uplift the SMEs. It’s something that other counties should emulate. Mr. Odinga said.

Two days later, Governor Ndiritu Muriithi was a key speaker at a luncheon organized by Mt. Kenya Foundation. He spoke broadly about the Laikipia economic models.

More than three-quarters of counties have come to benchmark with Laikipia in the last four years.

Laikipia’s strategy is to grow its economy four-fold from Kshs. 100 billion to Kshs. 400 billion within the medium term. Governor Muriithi’s administration has identified enterprise development as a key driver.

Under the Enterprise Development Programme, the county has been incubating micro, small, and medium enterprises – handholding them through the maze of formalization and certification processes. For the economy to grow four-fold, the county is targeting the handholding of 5,000 SMEs. Support to the SMEs under the Laikipia model includes provision of working space, market linkage, intellectual property rights registration, link to strategic partnerships, business planning development, business and technical training link to relevant certification and product development and design. Others include access to finance, mechanization of enterprises to enable mass production and enhancement of the business environment.

It also includes a Sh. 3.3 billion economic stimulus fund set up through a partnership between the county government and several banks. Banks lend to businesses at normal market rates but the county government discounts the interest rate by five percent. This means if the bank is lending at an interest of 12 percent, the business will repay at 7 percent.

Businesses can access facilities such as working capital, asset finance, invoice discounting, Local Purchase Orders (LPOs), Group loans and Agribusiness loans. The main idea is to enable SMEs stand up again after the slowdown by the Covid-19 pandemic. Laikipia-made products have been placed both in local and international markets, 16 other products have filed for utility models and patents.

In 2019, 10 Laikipia enterprises showcased their products in Rwanda during the 20 ^th East Africa Community MSMEs trade fair. The team got a chance to market their products and learn from other enterprises across the East African Community.

I sell my products in the East African region, Nigeria, Congo, and Rwanda as a result of this exposure. said David Burii who makes maize drier. Three months ago, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) registered BJ50 – the four-wheeler tuk-tuk that Governor Ndiritu Muriithi rode on in 2017. The assembly is supporting at least 15 Nyahururu-based sub-contractors.

The county is preparing to start exploiting iron ore and other mineral huge deposits in the county to accelerate the industrialization process and electricity reticulation. The demand for more jobs and increased incomes has inadvertently brought to the fore the question of the best model to support SMEs which form the bulk of enterprises to create more jobs and higher incomes. This question is even more relevant to the ten CEREB member counties which have a combined GDP of Kshs. 2.7 trillion, the bulk of which is supported by three million-plus
MSMEs.

Governor Ndiritu Muriith believes his county is providing a practical way to support growth of SMEs and a perfect economic stimulus model to cushion the businesses against the devastating effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

Wanjiku’s Speciality is Making Traditional Porridge for Ceremonies

Most of the traditional celebrations involving wedding preparations are not complete unless there is a quality traditional porridge. Many families that have such occasions go to extreme levels in search of people who can prepare them what is needed, owing to the fact that there are few people with such expertise.

Laikipians are lucky to have an expert in this field who started this work in 2018, mainly doing it in Rumuruti and the surrounding areas. Madrine Wanjiku is a common name now related to making quality traditional porridge for special occasions.

Asking her how and why she started this business, Wanjiku responds that she just started it as a showcase for cultural celebrations for the Kikuyu culture. Little did she know that this would come as a breakthrough for her
Ngakiwa Fermented Porridge business.

Wanjiku’s Speciality is Making Traditional Porridge for Ceremonies

It was back in 2018 when the County Government had organized an Indigenous Technology Trade Fair and people would exhibit what their forefathers were taken as food and drinks. I decided to participate and make porridge that was used during uthoni. said Wanjiku, highlighting that she learnt the skill from her parents and grandparents in Kirinyaga County.

Before COVID-19 hit the country, there were such celebrations in Rumuruti taking place on 10 ^th and 11 ^th of December every year. People would display traditional meals like honey, traditional beers, porridge, among many others.

Wanjiku, who also works in the section of Culture and Social Services under the Department of Education says she has taught the same to different groups in her area of work. These groups in turn help in making such traditional celebrations lively and complete.

I have been working with Excel Catering and Decoration group which provides outside catering. Their knowledge in making the rare porridge acts as an added advantage for them to get more customers.
she said.

Certification

According to Wanjiku, the porridge she makes has lots of nutritional value coming from the ingredients that form this meal. All the raw materials are natural to ensure no intoxication to the user.

The porridge is made with dried cereals, rich in nutrients, that is, maize, millet, and sorghum. It is ready within two days after preparation.

The entrepreneur who is a Community Development Assistant in Igwamiti ward, tasked with empowering the community to help in job creation in the community to lift livelihood describes how she makes her porridge: One grides the dry cereals with a grinding stone, then dips it in hot boiling water then stores in the guard for fermentation. The ready porridge can go up to a month.

Wanjiku explains that the porridge requires hot places as it is cold, and that is the reason why she has more customers in Rumuruti.

Though this business is seasonal, she says once she gets all the certifications, she will start repackaging the product and venture into mass production. The product will even help her in establishing a permanent working area.

This porridge is not only for use during wedding celebrations, marriages, and dowery but as food, especially when making long journeys.

I remember when I was young and we would go to shamba from morning with only a guard full of porridge. It is a meal by itself. concludes Wanjiku who is hopeful that people will embrace this traditional meal and improve their health.

A Strategic Partnership to Promote Destination Laikipia

Laikipia hospitality industry players are angling for a bigger tourism pie through an innovative partnership with their coastal counterparts.

The players will be in Mombasa for two days this week networking with their counterparts along the coast and learning on the best tourism practices that Laikipia can employ to attract more tourists.

More than 20 Laikipia hotels will participate in the marketing event aimed at promoting Destination Laikipia.

With Africa’s tourism sector being rated as one of the fastest-growing markets globally, Laikipia is making serious efforts to position itself strategically as a preferred destination of choice.

The choice of Mombasa for the strategic partnership has been informed by its growing number of tourists which is only second to Nairobi.

Many international tourists land in the country through Moi International Airport, Mombasa before embarking on visiting different attractions in the upcountry.

A Strategic Partnership to Promote Destination Laikipia

Laikipia is yearning to be a leading tourism destination and has been wooing domestic and international tourists to visit the county during their holidays. Among the industry players taking part in marketing volley at the Coast is Ol Pejeta conservancy which will slaughter two bulls to showcase Laikipia’s best beef product.

Laikipia is Kenya’s leading producer of Borana beef meat. Those attending will have a taste of this delicacy.

Others are Maiyan, Falcon Hotel, and also some real estate firms.

Laikipia is the gateway to Mt. Kenya and has a diverse culture, scenery, and abundant wildlife in private conservancies.

We are targeting tour operators, hospitality owners, tourism associations. What we are looking for is to see how Mombasa and Laikipia Counties can complement each other in terms of joint marketing of tourism products. Laikipia Tourism CECM, Biwott Tirop said.

The key outcomes expected are to have tourists coming for a seven-day holiday, spend four days enjoying the beach in Mombasa, and three days for the game drive and mountain climbing in Laikipia.

The main aim is to sell Laikipia as a tourism and investment destination. The event will also provide an opportunity for industry players to interact on ways of diversifying their products to raise the profile of Destination Laikipia.

With the lifting of the curfew, Laikipia is set to witness an increased number of tourists visiting various attraction sites in the county.

Currently, we have around 300 rooms whose owners are willing to lease and going into festivity, we expect the increase in tourism to occupy them. CECM said.

Laikipia is also targeting between 15-20 real estate firms to showcase various offers they have in Laikipia for investment.

He added that when one looks at the national scale, Laikipia has become a prime destination for tourism and investment.

The government is already expanding Nanyuki Civil Airstrip. The upgrade of the Kenol-Marua Dual Carriage road and rehabilitation of the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line will increase tourists in Laikipia.

The dual carriage will be perfect for people who love road trips. said the CECM.

The county government is also modernizing Laikipia urban centers under the smart town’s initiative to attract investment. The event will culminate with a golf competition at Nyali Golf Club.

Thuti is on a Healthy Conservation Mission

Francis Githui a.k.a Thuti, a resident of Nanyuki town in Laikipia County, is a dedicated citizen who is passionate about environmental conservation. Planting a tree has been his way of improving nature. But he does not just plant trees, but fruit trees. His efforts will literary bear fruits in the next couple of years – in some cases, months – when Laikipians, especially those in Nanyuki town, benefit from the fruit tree plants.

With a tree nursery near Nanyuki dumpsite that serves as the base of his operations, Thuti has a fruit tree seedlings nursery. Open space in Nanyuki town streets and public institutions, riparian and river banks present an excellent opportunity for Thuti to plant fruit trees. He also donates seedlings to individuals, groups, and organizations. He has over 180,000 fruit trees seedlings in his nursery which include avocadoes, passion fruits, guavas, loquats, and apples. He says the aim of starting tree planting along the rivers, roads, hospitals, schools, orphanages,s and the library is helpful in the reduction of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes and also other non-communicable diseases. Thuti says that once the trees mature, they will have fruits that will be readily available for everyone.

The tree will also contribute to greening Nanyuki town as well as providing shade for people to relax. The project is a source of employment for many youths. There was also the inspiration of having to quench one’s thirst in a healthy way just like in the ancient days when non-poisonous wild berries were found everywhere and could be eaten at any time.

The environmentalist also had the vision to reestablish habitats for wild animals such as monkeys, birds, and bees who are barely seen especially near towns. He wants to provide food and shelter for animals that live on trees so that they are not foreign to millennials and the next generations.

According to Mr. Thuti, the community around has been helpful in the maintenance of these trees by giving him free water to water the trees like hotel owners where he fetches water from and stores where he keeps his tools.

I have been given a piece of land near the dumpsite to plant my seedlings. He said. As an environmentalist, he uses milk packets that have been disposed to plant on his seedlings in his nursery. He has also collaborated with Kazi Mtaani programme to plant trees around Kigiri area. This is not commercial work, it’s passion. he says.

He outsources his seedlings by buying the fruit and getting the seeds and sometimes he ‘ raids the market’ as he termed it, that is, by looking for the rejects that cannot be sold and buys them at a cheaper price.

Thuti is on a Healthy Conservation Mission

Thuti is also on a zero-waste initiative where he plans on eradication of all plastic and inorganic waste in Laikipia County. He is making cabros from plastic waste as a recycling project where he is mixing biodegradable waste, graphite, plastic waste and crushed glass. He utilizes the waste that is deemed unrecyclable by recycling companies and combusts them in his locally made technology to make fine paste for cabros making.

My first paying job from this innovation is a project I implemented for NAWASCO to build a cabro pavement at their Nanyuki headquarters. Thuti says. He works in collaboration with the relevant authorities such as Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) and also National Environment Management Authority(NEMA) and public health to ensure the smooth running of his projects and avoid conflict of interest. His main aim in starting this project is to ensure that Laikipia County is among the clean counties in terms of taking care of the dumpsite by utilizing biodegradable materials and also improving on the sanctuary of Laikipia county. He has visions of expanding this innovation from small scale to large scale and creating more employment opportunities for youths around and also obtaining a large market for his products.