This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
On a typical day, Stephen Odhiambo, a Jua Kali artisan, would be working on his usual projects. However, his life took a dramatic turn in June 2020 when a video of his unique sofa went viral on Twitter.
The video, which showed a three-seater sofa that could be quickly expanded into a six-seater with a table in the middle, caught the attention of many, including mainstream media outlets.
As the video gained traction, Odhiambo received 700 orders for the unique seat, which could be converted into a bench to accommodate six people with a table in the middle. One seat costs Ksh 22,000, and the 700 orders brought in just above Ksh 15 million, making Odhiambo the latest millionaire in town.
According to Odhiambo, his curiosity was drawn to a video on the internet, which inspired him to copy the idea. He and his team are now making five benches in a day, and the orders are coming in thick and thin that he is thinking about switching off his phone when working.
As Oliver Mathenge tweeted on June 10, 2020, 'If you know who these guys are, tusaidieni contact.'
— Mohammed Hersi (@mohammedhersi) June 10, 2020
