It was a shot in the arm for Jua Kali artisans, who fabricate windows and doors for the first phase of the affordable housing project in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, after they received Sh10 million for their work.
During a ceremony, presided over by the County Executive for Trade, Industrialization, cooperatives and Tourism, John Muiru, and Nyandarua Central Deputy County Commissioner Michael Olooltua, the artisans received the money under Jua Kali Artisans Association
According to the Head of Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) in Nyandarua, Ann Kuria, eight groups of artisans formed the association to bag the tender for supply of metal windows and doors for the housing project.
To increase visibility of artisans, Kuria appealed to County government to support them to participate in East African Trade Fair, where they can showcase their products.
She further stated that MSEA has been supporting the artisans by providing them equipment and market linkages.
On his part, Olooltua advised the groups to organize themselves in groups and acquire necessary equipment so as to increase their chances of bagging more tenders for the future government projects in the County like the next phase of the housing project and building of markets.
County Executive in charge of Trade, Mr. Muiru said the County government was ready to support the artisans expand their scope of work by availing resources in form of grants to them.
Muiru said plans are under way for the County to launch a ‘trade fund’ that will be a revolving fund for funding groups that will win tenders to supply products to projects in the County.
The official said that apart from markets to be built in Kinangop and Kipipiri by the national government, the artisans will also have a chance to get orders for products when building of a university in Nyandarua will kick off.
The Jua Kali Artisans Association chairman, Charles Gaikia, urged the government to provide three-phase electricity supply in the Jua kali sheds in Ol Kalou town to enable members up their game adding that currently the sheds have single-phase supply.
He said, apart from doing their normal work, the artisans also give internships to graduates from technical and vocational education training institutions to give them the practical aspect of what they learned in the technical colleges.
By Kimani Tirus
