Class 5 dropout now most sought after boat maker on L. Victoria

Mr Oyier has a workshop at Ndeda Island in Bondo, Siaya County, where he has employed two people on permanent basis. He can hire up to 10 casuals when the business is at its peak.

“Ordinarily, we get two to four orders in a month from my clients who come from over 100 beache,” he told Enterprise.

Despite his deep knowledge on boat-making, Mr Oyier never had any specialised training on the craft. He dropped out at Class Five but can now make boats that can withstand turbulent Lake Victoria waters. He says his mastery of the trade has enabled him to fend for his family of three wives and ten children.

“Having come from a poor background and dropped out of primary school, I don’t want my children to go through what I encountered,” he says.

He makes a small fishing boat for Sh30,000 while passenger boats can cost up to Sh70,000 without the engine.

“The fishing boats are usually built smaller compared with passenger boats which are also used to transport goods across the lake,” he notes.

When Enterprise arrived at his premises, a number of boats were at his docking space waiting for him to check them.

His expertise is on demand in various beaches such as Wakula, Osindo, Wichlum, Liunda and Mageta. Sometimes his work takes him away from his workshop for a couple of days.

“During this period, I am forced to close my Ndeda Island workshop and set base in other beaches,” he says.

It takes him seven to 10 days to make an average-size boat and up to 20 days for big ones. A boat can take over one year after being built before undergoing any repairs, he says.

“A boat is not like a car that can be parked by the roadside when it develops a mechanical problem. Boats have to be built very carefully,” he says

“The trick with boat making is ensuring that the joints are well sealed to avoid leakage which might turn disastrous.”

Mr Oyier says the biggest challenge in the business is availability and cost of the hardwood which is imported from Uganda.

“Any delay in the supply of the timber can be a big setback to the business,” he reveals.

The venture can generate an income of between Sh2,000 and Sh15,000 on a good day.

When he is not in the business of boat-making, Mr Oyier says he likes to mingle with the local fishermen and watching soccer with his peers while unwinding after a hard-days’ work.