This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
For six years, Jackson Molen, a Maasai from Kajiado, has been living in Mombasa, where he has established himself as a master of twisting hair braids.
Known to his customers as 'Hero', Molen's salon in Buxton, Mombasa, attracts a loyal following, with some traveling from as far as Bamburi, a distance of about nine kilometers.
According to Molen, he discovered his passion for braiding hair while still in his community, where young men, known as morans, often braid their hair.
After a passer-by saw him in action, Molen began braiding women's hair, and the rest, as they say, is history.
With a speciality in plaiting twists, a popular hair style among women, Molen has been in business for five years, earning around Sh1,000 per customer.
As a father of eight, Molen relies on the income from his salon to fend for his family, and has even been able to help his brothers earn a living in the city.
Despite the challenges of being away from his family for up to five months at a time, Molen remains committed to his business, which has become a source of pride for the Maasai community in Mombasa.
With a community of around 30 Maasai men running salons in the area, Molen and his friends have formed a tight-knit group, looking out for one another and sharing what little income they receive.
As Molen puts it, 'A man should take his responsibilities seriously.'
