MADE IN KENYA: Kiambu entrepreneur manufacturing footwear

 At a small workshop in Kiambu town, Steve Otieno carefully gives instructions to Monica Lewinsky, training her on how to make shoes.

Lewinsky is enthusiastic about footwear manufacturing and is at the workshop to learn the art, so as to sustain herself.

Together with the trainee, Steve’s team now comprises three people. They have been making footwear, mostly school shoes for students within Kiambu County.

Steve buys the leather from Kariokor in Nairobi and develops the designs for the different shoes.

“I started in 2018. When I go to Kariokor, I take leather products. For boys’ shoes, I take black smooth leather. I give each shoe a pattern after drawing the design,” Steve says.

“We not only make shoes for students, but also teachers and people going to events like weddings.”

Steve and his colleague Anderine Ochieng mostly make the shoes using their hands. They have one stitching machine operated by Steve as Ochieng works on the sole and finishing.

When the shoes are ready, they display them in their two shops in Kiambu and Nairobi.

Steve says the reception from his target customers has been positive, and this is because of the quality of his shoes. Most of the customers are walk-ins, but he intends to start selling online to grow his sales.

As part of his future plans, he intends to continue training more people interested in shoe work, as he is doing with Lewinsky. Steve encourages more ladies to embrace dominated skills.