This archive report was first published on 11 July 2021.
On July 4, 2021, Peter Gikiri, a Nyeri-based bicycle mechanic, stunned Nairobi residents by cycling into the city on a one-of-a-kind bicycle he had built himself.
According to Gikiri, it took him 72 hours to cover the 150-kilometre distance from Nyeri Town on the five-foot-tall bicycle, which he assembled over two weeks.
Speaking to a YouTuber, Gikiri revealed that his destination was the Homeland area in Nairobi, where he had a meeting at Iganjo FM, a radio station he is a fan of.
As seen in a YouTube video, Gikiri was speaking with Presenter Ali at Alsops, Nairobi, on July 4, 2021.
With a top speed of 20 kilometres per hour, the bicycle required a high sense of balance due to its height, and Gikiri admitted to falling a couple of times before getting used to it.
Notably, Gikiri built the bicycle to debunk the myth that bicycle mechanics lack innovative skills, and he has also produced other unique inventions, including unicycles and bicycles made from bamboo.
After the meeting at Iganjo FM, Gikiri intends to ride back to Nyeri.
Onlookers watch Mr. Peter Gikiri climbing his bicycle in Alsops, Nairobi, on June 4, 2021.
