This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On Ngong' Road, Nairobi, a duo of enterprising carpenters, Stephen Odhiambo and Dennis Otieno, have been making waves with their innovative garden seat. The seat, which accommodates three people but can be extended to seat six, has gained significant attention after a video of it went viral last week.
Since the video made it to the internet, the two have received over 700 offers from Kenyans interested in the seat. Their hard work and innovative design have not gone unnoticed, and they may now have to add a couple more orders to the ones they already have, courtesy of Deputy President William Ruto.
DP Ruto met the two at his Karen office on Friday, where he was impressed by their innovation and decided to make a few orders of his own. Mr. Otieno told the DP that they sell the seat at a cost of Ksh.22,000 to 'ordinary Kenyans' but offered a good deal to the DP, eventually agreeing to buy five of them at a total cost of Ksh.150,000; hence Ksh.30,000 each.
However, because they had only brought two seats during the meet, the DP says he will give the artisans Ksh.100,000 and the balance of Ksh.50,000 when they deliver the other three next week. The DP described Mr. Odhiambo and Mr. Otieno as 'enterprising Kenyans with innovative ideas on garden furniture' and expressed his gratitude for their cutting-edge skills and efforts.
DP Ruto even took to Twitter to express his admiration for the duo's work, saying, 'I pray to God through the Son of the Carpenter from Nazareth to bless the work of their hands.'
June 26, 2020 - I pray to God through the Son of the Carpenter from Nazareth to bless the work of their hands. Their dreams are valid. Karen office, Nairobi County. pic.twitter.com/SeG82blxH2 — William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 26, 2020
