This archive report was first published on 29 June 2021.
On a mission to preserve the environment, Monica Waithera, a 31-year-old civil servant from Nanyuki's Baraka Trading Centre, has turned her passion into a business by recycling waste into home décor.
Waithera, who works with the Department of National Registration Bureau in Laikipia, has been scouting for disposed bottles and rags to convert them into house décor in her free time.
She noted that bottles, tattered clothes, and beverage cans, which are some of the waste materials she recycles, have become an eyesore in the area, spurring her to take action.
Waithera's fine products, such as jewellery holders and flower vases, are achieved after she mixes cement solution with tattered cloths, which she moulds to client's desire.
For beverage cans and bottles, she first cleans them, sprays with different colours of paints, and then decorates them with Maasai beads, bringing out magnificent interior décor.
Waithera's items can also be used to hold candles and small household items.
Despite facing challenges, including a loan that went into drain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Waithera has continued to pursue her passion for environment conservation.
She has since shifted to working from home, using social media to market her products, and has managed to attract hotels and home owners as her main clientele.
Laikipia National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) County Director, Jackson Muturo, noted that NEMA has developed a programme to conserve the environment tailored down to county level.
He added that the Authority has implemented significant programmes on solid waste management and pollution control, and is supporting county governments to establish proper waste management infrastructure.
Waithera's products range between Sh500 to Sh2,500, and she is encouraging people to recycle bottles and use them in beneficial ways.
She pleaded with residents to find alternative use of waste materials rather than polluting the environment.
Waithera's story is a testament to the power of innovation and determination in the face of adversity.
