'Iron' lady keeps heads turning

By WAMBUI NDUNG’U

Even as society accepts the career woman, distinguishing of male and female jobs keeps narrowing.

However, most people are yet to fully embrace the idea of women getting into ‘highly physical’ ventures.

Many women, especially those in rural areas do not have the confidence to engage in some masculine jobs. Those who dare keep heads turning.

Such is the case of Miriam Waitherero who is not afraid to get her hands dirty. The stains on her hands not only put food on her table, but also fill her heart with satisfaction.

Waitherero is trained as a Jua kali artisan.. [PHOTO: WAMBUI NDUNGU / Standard]

Growing up, the 28-year-old watched her neighbour curve beautiful items out of metal. This fascinated her and roused her curiosity in blacksmith trade. She never approached him, but watched from a distance as he made and distributed metallic objects.

"For some reason, I always knew he could do more with the items he made. I also thought this trade was very lucrative," she says.

Waitherero comes from a poor family and when she completed her ‘O’ levels, she was unable to get a certificate due to fee balance. She could thus not pursue further education.

Daring venture

She secured a job as an untrained teacher in a local academy before quitting to join tailoring. After three years in the business, she found it unfulfilling and quit to go into what many thought was a daring and ridiculous venture.

You will find her in Nyeri at a small blacksmith workshop Christened "hot hot juakali."

Clad in green, Waitherero is busy shaping the exterior of a jiko. Her concentration is focused on what she is doing and only after a few calls does she respond.

"Hey, I am sorry I didn’t hear you. Welcome," she says with a smile.

Her employer Peter Waithaka has never regretted offering her a chance to work in his workshop. He, however, admits that he was sceptical when she first approached him.

"She came to my workshop one afternoon and asked to be trained as a Jua kali artisan. I did not take her seriously. To test her commitment, I told her to report the following day at 6.30am," says Waithaka.

Big Commitment

Waitherero was at the workshop by 6am and Waithaka did not have any reason to dismiss her. He says his doubts ended when he realised she was determined to work.

What followed was three weeks of intense training starting from making liners of jiko’s to the more technical job that entails carving metallic objects.

"She is a fast learner and has a passion for the job. It did not take long before I could trust her to finish an entire product on her own," said Waithaka.

So impressed is he by her work that he says he would not mind employing other women to do the job. Waithaka says he has employed men before in the trade but from the time he employed Waitherero, the business has seen tremendous growth.

Waitherero says the job is tiresome, but that has not deterred her determination.

She is entrusted with making products as well as running the business. In many instances, she is the person customers are likely to find at the premises.

Her employer is involved in marketing the business and supplying finished products to the market. He says that since she came aboard, the business has grown so much that he is looking to employ more people to meet the demand.

Waitherero advises young women not to shun jobs by regarding them masculine. She says many times, the youth claim there are no jobs yet they refuse to venture into blue collar jobs.

"These jobs are fulfilling and will put food on the table. They are jobs just like those in offices, the difference is they are more physical. The youth should get into self employment other than spending years seeking formal jobs," said Waitherero.

The single mother of one is able to feed, educate and clothe her nine-year old daughter from the proceeds of the business.

The biggest challenge for Waitherero has been society’s perception. Some people are yet to accept that a woman can work as a blacksmith.

Malicious customers

Waithaka says her presence at the workshop has attracted many people, though he admits that some come out of malice. But Waitherero’s products always prove to be of quality. He says women are faithful, accountable and good business managers.

"Women can do anything they set their eyes on if they stop looking down on themselves," he says.

Some people visit the shop to test her ability but she says her quality products usually impress them and they trust her.

She makes an average of five jiko’s a day. These products are supplied to markets in Nyeri, Chaka and Gichira.

Waithaka says he is not ready to lose Waitherero in his business and plans to partner with her to make the business grow even further.

A single jiko goes for Sh200 at wholesale price. They also make feeders, gutters, watering cans, stove stands and metal boxes. Besides making metallic objects, she is also involved in doing repairs.

A typical day for her starts at 7am in the morning and ends at 7am in the evening. She is, however, not complaining as she gets to do what she loves as well as make ends meet.

Waitherero says this is only the beginning as she is looking to start her own business.

"I will not leave the blacksmith trade. I will expand the business to cover a bigger market," she says.