Humphrey Obell: There is no such thing as quick money

Less than 10 years ago while awaiting graduation from university, Humphrey Obell registered his company, LeathaFreek, so he could indulge his passion for leather products. He went into manufacturing and export of shoes and bags, taking gradual steps towards success.

Striving gamely in a sluggish economy, Humphrey’s LeathaFreek offers an example of what might be possible for Kenya’s youth specifically and the nation generally. His tiny manufacturing plant in a Nairobi suburb employs five workers but churns out exciting products. Each worker is a specialist in an aspect of the business - design, cutting, stitching and assembly. Humphrey has, however, trained himself to handle every stage of the process. A costly lesson forced him to.