Inside Baringo County’s business world, an unexpected scenario plays up in the shoe-cobbling vocation.

A woman in Baringo has defied the traditional norm for people of her age and sex from pastoralist communities to remain at home taking care of their children as well as engaging in domestic chores by venturing into the shoe-making business.

People Daily found Elizabeth Chepkonga recently as she attended to her clients at Karen Complex Shoe Makers situated in the Kabarnet Central Business District (CBD) where she is employed as a shoemaker and attendant.

Chepkonga as a result is giving men a run for their money in her business venture.

Born 40 years ago in Seretunin village in Baringo County, Ms Chepkonga has surprised many from her home and beyond and she is a beacon of hope to many women, especially in an area like Baringo County where male chauvinism is rife.

Cleared course

Chepkonga told People Daily in an interview that she developed an interest in the enterprise by seeing people engaging in it last year when she was a cybercafé attendant after clearing a store management course at Morop Institute in Kabarnet town.

 “I’ve always loved engaging in practical and challenging things. I can learn a lot without any formal training and I decided to try my hand in it,” said the soft-spoken lady.

Initially, she had been employed just as an attendant at the shop but her employer discovered her unique skills and employed her as one of the shoemakers. Her roles include shoe making and sole fixing among others things according to customer needs.

The talented lady urges fellow women not to be choosy but to do any work available so long as they can earn a living, especially with the harsh economic times.

We are disrupted throughout the interview by customers in need of her services.

Ms Chepkonga said that plans were now at an advanced stage for her to start her own business when she gets enough capital and formally undergoes a course on leatherwork.

“I also plan to enrol for a driving course. I’ve always enjoyed venturing into fields which are naturally a preserve for men,” Ms Chepkonga told People Daily.

Business improved

She boasts that business has tremendously improved at the shop since she joined two years ago with some customers demanding that if she’s not the one dealing with them they better seek services elsewhere.

Ms Chepkonga said that the returns from her shoe-making skills have enabled her to take care of her parents.

“Compared to a paltry Sh2,000 I was earning from the menial work I was doing for many hours before, this work has tremendously improved my standard of living,” explained the young entrepreneur.

Her employer Sammy Kangogo described the lady as very hardworking and dedicated to her work compared to other people he has employed before.

“She does the work as if the business is hers. It is difficult to get someone like her in this era,” Kangogo, a father of two from Kipkaech in the Kabarnet division of Baringo Central Constituency told People Daily.

Kangogo 45, who also learned the shoe-making business through an apprenticeship in Nakuru County said that he started the business in 2004 with a mere capital of Sh8,000 but the business turnover has grown tremendously since the lady joined him and it now stands at over Sh300,000.

A pair of shoes at the shop goes at between Sh500 and Sh1, 200 with students and the general population being customers. The high season is in December and on opening days.

“The business is a big relief to residents who cannot afford new shoes due to the harsh economic times which has led to the sky-rocketing of commodity prices,” said Kangogo.

He supplements his income by making ladies’ belts with orders from across the country as far as Mombasa.

Fierce competition

The young entrepreneur cited getting skilled personnel in the trade as a major problem facing the business with those he has trained opting to open similar businesses giving him competition in the sector.

“Difficulty in accessing raw materials from Nakuru, especially during high seasons has also posed as another challenge to the business,” said Kangogo.

He said that plans were at an advanced stage for him to expand the business to other towns including Kabartonjo and Marigat.

He also plans to purchase his own van to address the transportation problem if the business continues to improve.

Kangogo also boasts that his standard of living has improved since he ventured into the industry. He has comfortably educated three of his siblings through high school.

The entrepreneur urges fellow youth to stop over-reliance on white-collar jobs and try their hand at any job that can put food on the table.

“I’m saddened when I see the youth engaging in drug abuse and other social ills yet there are many opportunities which they can turn into profitability,” Kangogo told the People Daily.

Before venturing into the shoe-making industry, the young entrepreneur had also tried his hand in many activities including driving and masonry.