Innovative entrepreneur makes fencing wires from worn-out tyres
By Mathew.Ndungu, February 9, 2022While some people may not see the value of worn-out tyres, an enterprising woman from Kiambu county is running a successful business making affordable fencing materials from the same.
Lucy Waweru from Muti Mumu village in Gatundu South constituency has been eking a living by weaving wires of old tyres to make wire mesh.
She says while many people only recycle rubber from the tyres to make shoes, within the tyres are wires she uses to make the fencing materials.
“I enjoy seeing the discarded tyres because it is from there that I feed my children. I have also employed local youths and it is from this venture that they sustain their families,” she said.
The budding entrepreneur oils the wires before burning them using a high-voltage machine to transform them into wire mesh that are widely used for fencing homesteads. Waweru has been in this business since 2016.
Unlike other villages in the vast constituency, her idea has uniquely eradicated societal vices at Muti Mumu, as you can hardly find an idle young man in the area.
In an interview with People Daily, Waweru said she sells one roll of the wire mesh to brokers at a cost of between Sh1,200 and Sh1,600.
“I currently sell our products to brokers but I am striving to get better markets for better returns. Going forward, I believe the firm will grow to a major factory and that means increased jobs for our people,” added Waweru.
She urged youngsters to embrace technical courses that have useful skills that are key to nation-building.
Job opportunities
At the same time, she took issue with politicians for misusing youngsters by giving them handouts instead of giving them capital to start income generating activities.
Locals acclaimed Waweru over her dedication to turn her talent into fortunes for locals, who would have otherwise been jobless and roaming around.
Virginia Ngina, a resident, said the hardworking woman has employed tens of local men, stating that she has been exemplifying peculiarities owing to her dedication to work.
Paul Kamau, who has been sewing the chain links said that through Waweru, he now has a livelihood that for five years has enabled him to sustain his family.
Instead of giving voters handouts, Kamau urged the government to support such courses that create job opportunities for hundreds of unemployed youths.
“Waweru is the reason my family is what it is today. I am older than her but her creativity has given me an opportunity to feed my children with less struggles.
These are the people the government should endeavour to support to eradicate joblessness,” said Mwangi.
He further called out youngsters for being choosy in jobs, saying any form of work is proper so long as it is legitimate and puts food on the table.