This archive report was first published on 9 October 2021.
Published on October 9, 2021, Boniface Karanja's life has been a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. For the past 27 years, he has been fixing cars, and his passion for the trade has only grown stronger.
Speaking from his garage in downtown Nairobi, Karanja credits his uncle for introducing him to the business. 'This was like a graduation for me,' he says, referring to the initial challenges he faced in learning the craft.
Back in the day, becoming a mechanic was a common choice for many youths who did not do well in school or whose parents could not afford school fees. For Karanja, it was the latter that drove him to become a mechanic, and it eventually became a passion.
'I love working on cars. I can do a better job than anyone trained in a technical school,' Karanja says confidently. He notes that a majority of the mechanics at the Grogon area learned the trade through apprenticeship, starting as spanner boys.
'This work is only possible through passion,' Karanja emphasizes. 'Every mechanic starts as a spanner boy, but some give up along the way if they are not patient enough.'
Karanja believes that mechanics who learn the craft through apprenticeship end up becoming better at their job than those who undergo vocational training. 'Here, they do practical work, unlike those from universities. Most people come here to learn the practical aspect of what they learn in class,' he explains.
So, what does one need to start a mechanics business besides the training? Karanja says you need all the necessary equipment, the right attire, and capital. 'With about Sh50,000, one can get the most basic equipment,' he notes.
Despite the challenges that come with it, especially for old school mechanics like himself, Karanja agrees that technology has made work easier. 'For instance, I can direct a client on what to do from the comfort of my garage,' he says.
He advises young mechanics to save for old age. 'I advise spanner boys to learn to save the little they get because this job does not have retirement benefits,' Karanja says. 'I invest by putting up other small businesses. This is like my retirement plan because a time will come when I can no longer do this job.'
On a good day, Karanja earns Sh3,000, but other days he goes home empty-handed. He chooses to operate his business in the Grogon area, despite the traffic congestion and insecurity associated with the area, because of the constant flow of traffic and the many spare part shops around.
'I believe the area plays a major role in the economy. White-collar jobs are hard to find,' Karanja says. He hopes to set up a training institution to train mechanics in future.
