This archive report was first published on 12 July 2021.
Wilberforce Wendo's journey from living on the streets of Nairobi to becoming a renowned mechanic is a testament to his determination and passion for his craft.
At just 15, Wendo fled his home due to harassment from his stepmother and began flipping chapatis at vibandas in Gikomba. However, he soon discovered his true calling in repairing electronics and eventually graduated to working on motor vehicles.
Today, Wendo runs a garage in Roysambu, where he takes on the most challenging projects, restoring vehicles that would have otherwise been dumped as unusable.
“As we speak, I am in Mpeketoni working on a small lorry that was dumped more than 12 years ago. The owner asked me to come down to the coast and restore it,” he said in a phone interview.
Wendo's expertise extends beyond restoring wrecked cars; he also offers modifications at his clients' requests. His self-taught skills have earned him a reputation as a master mechanic, and he drives a Honda Stream that he restored at half the cost of a new car.
Wendo's success story is a reflection of the thousands of Kenyans who have acquired technical skills through experience and hard work, despite lacking formal education.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's order in June 2021 for the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) to develop a framework for awarding certificates to youths in the Jua Kali sector is a step in the right direction for recognizing the skills of individuals like Wendo.
