Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
Every chance that one needs to transform their lives is a worth takeoff. That is a lesson that a designer in Kilifi County is out to prove to the world. While none would think that wastes makes no sense, one Michael Nzuki is seeing a fortune out of it.
Thousands of tons of trash are normally thrown as waste materials in the country and even globally.
They range from plastics, worn-out tires, leather jackets, leather bags, and many more.
Mr. Nzuki is the Director at Anzuki Recycle Designers, a company based in Malindi that is using leather jackets, bag wastes, and other recycled material to make products for export in Europe.
Apart from using leather products, Anzuki also uses tires to design open shoes that last long and are also sold both locally and abroad.
Uzalendo News caught up with Nzuki at his shop located in the resort town of Malindi.
Mr. Nzuki who has been participating in the monthly clean-ups organized by the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) said he came up with the idea to make useful products from the wastes to get income and make the environment clean.
“We thought of a way to reduce the spread of mosquitos and began using the tires to make shoes, like this one on top we used leather jackets and the sole is made from car tires,” he said.
Fruits Of The Waste
Due to their efforts, no car tires can be found dumped anywhere in Malindi because they are a source of income.
He also came up with a beach cleaning program that holds programs such as collecting plastics with children from a local village called Mijikenda which were sold to Watamu recycling plant but nowadays the plastics are sold right in town.
“We thought it wise to make the beaches clean and ensure the marine life is safe,” he said.
Currently, he said there are 12 girls in the program whom he pays fees for and also supports them with uniforms and other school items.
At the shop, there is a variety of products from wallets, shoes, handbags, belts and many other products made from recycling products.
“I started this initiative in 2010, we were three of us but now we are over 30 people who make products from recycled materials,” he said.
Nzuki showed us soft leather from a used leather jacket which he adds with rubber at the bottom for the shoes to be soft which if complete is mixed with used jeans to design nice open shoes.
The sole of the designed open shoes, he said, is made from used car tires which to him are no longer available and has reduced malaria spread.
“We have reduced diseases and make products for exports which are loved by many people, such a pair of shoes can last for over five years,” he said adding that the shoes cost Sh. 1000.
COVID Pandemic Effect
He said they also buy used rubber shoes and remove the sole and replace the top with African material to make new shoes which are also in demand.
Before Covid-19 hit the globe he said business was booming but since 2020 he said they have been experiencing challenges due to lack of business.
Tourists particularly the international ones are no longer visiting the resort town which has really affected their sales.
“We used to depend on the tourists to come to the shop because we have a workshop for production and a retail shop, those customers for the retail shop have never turned up because they were also hit by the pandemic since 2020,’ he said.
Right now, he depends on the export market which is not continuous.
Previously, Nzuki said he used to depend on the retail market as they were selling products daily to clients from abroad who used to visit the resort town as tourists.
Currently, they are only left with the wholesale clients from abroad who are only four from different countries abroad.
“Right now, we are also being affected by the politics, it normally has negative effects on business because tourists sometimes fear due to the tension so we urge politicians to exercise peaceful campaigns so that tourists can be able to come and visit our country,” he said.
Nzuki said he was born naturally as a designer and never went to a design school but used to make products to get money for personal use.
In 2009 he said he got a chance to meet the Export promotion council who trained them and made him realize that the products were important in the global market and could be exported.
“To start with, they paid us a trip to Germany for the Biennale international trade fare where I learned that there are many useful products which can be made from waste products which can be sold at the international market,” he said.
Since then, he has been able to create more than 100 job opportunities for youths though his target was to create 500 job opportunities.
He however cannot afford to employ them due to the low business but with support, he can be able to expand his business because each day he comes up with new innovations.
To advertise himself he began going for trade shows in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania through the export promotion council.
“I really thank the export promotion council because they have helped me grow this business together with others who trained us,’ he said.
Initially, the product was not that good but after the training, they have been able to upgrade it, and is now good.
According to Nzuki, they came up with the idea of collecting plastics and selling them in Watamu recycling plant which has created income and helped in making the beach clean.
Nzuki called on the government and organizations to support him so as to expand his venture as he tried to open an office in Rwanda and Nairobi but closed shop.
The move he said can help him increase the number of students under his program for education up to 50 and also expand the market to areas that they have not reached in Europe.
“Normally there are trade fairs which if I attend am able to market my products. In East Africa, I have really marketed my products but I need the other countries abroad,” he said.
Nicholas Nzioka, a young designer working at Anzuki recycle designers said he was trained by Nzuki in 2009 and since then he has learnt so many skills of designing products.
According to Nzioka, they are able to make four pairs of open shoes per day which can be used for up to two years.
“We used recycled materials to design products from them, for people they may find it as waste but for me, I see cash,” he said.
Among the products he uses include used leather jackets, old jeans among others.
Every day Nzioka said he goes to the shop at 8 am and begins by making insole and tops to complete open shoe design.
With such initiatives, Nzuki is not only turning Gold from trash but also helps generate income and at the same time conserve the environment.
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