Coconut shells put food on my table, Nyeri man says

Murage Ngare works on a coconut's shell at his workshop at Kabati Village in Kieni, Nyeri County where he specialises in making ornaments. PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD

Since 1990, Murage Ngare of Kabati Village, Nyeri County has been earning a living making ornaments from coconut shells.

His journey into making belts, earrings, buttons and bangles begun when he left home for Lamu to seek greener pastures.

“Being unemployed for a while, I left for the coast to look for a job. Once there, I decided being a beach boy was not an option and it was while exploring other options that I met my (would-be) mentor,” Murage says.

This was a man who was making and selling ornaments using coconut shells and who agreed to take Murage under his wing - teaching him all there was to know about the craft.

“After training under my mentor for several months he left for Zanzibar and I inherited his workshop and tools. I have not looked back since then,” says Murage.

It was easy to source for raw materials needed for the ornaments and his products soon garnered the attention of fashion designers and tourists who frequented the coast.

Unfortunately three years ago, his mother became ill and he had to travel back to Nyeri to take care of her. Back home, not only has he had to contend with lack of raw materials but also a virtually non-existent market.

“I tried to sell my products to locals but many were unwilling to pay the price I quoted. I have now resorted to travelling neighbouring towns such as Karatina, Nanyuki and Sagana to make my sales,” he says.

A coconut shell bracelet retails at Sh100 to Sh500, earrings retails at Sh50 to Sh500, while buttons will cost between Sh15 to 25 depending on the size.

Despite the challenges he is now facing, Murage says many more should adopt this trade because it is a great way to conserve the enviroment as it uses what is considered waste to make beautiful art.