Kawangware Vision Centre co-founders Maurice Auka (left) and Austine Githaiga during an interview at their workshop, in Kawangware 56, Nairobi on December 11, 2024.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Twenty years ago, Augustine Githaiga, a co-founder of a packaging business in Nairobi’s Kawangware, could never have imagined supplying high-end hotels and spas across Kenya.
What began as a modest venture has blossomed into a transformative initiative, creating opportunities and empowering a community.
The seeds of the business were sown to address a pressing social issue—rising crime in Kawangware. Mr Githaiga and his business partner, Morris Auka, were troubled by the escalating criminal activities in their neighborhood, often involving their peers. They felt powerless as friends were fatally shot by police or succumbed to a life of drugs and crime.
Determined to make a change, Mr Auka, originally from Kenya’s Western region, teamed up with Mr Githaiga, a Kawangware native, to create a venture that would rescue and empower their community.
“We had ideas but lacked resources,” Mr Auka recalls.
With no formal higher education, the two decided to focus on manual work. They experimented with artisanal skills and making concrete blocks before finding their footing in handcrafted bags.
Leveraging their modest savings and a Sh50,000 investment from a supportive Nairobi-based entrepreneur, they pivoted to bag-making—an idea borrowed from a local jeweler who also provided financial backing.
Starting with khaki envelopes, the business soon diversified into packaging bags for jewelry and foodstuffs. Wildlife-themed decorations on the bags evolved into custom logos, attracting clients from restaurants and hotels.
“Several facilities contracted us to craft for them, and the business started growing,” Mr Auka shares.
From its humble beginnings in a 10-by-10-foot workshop, the initiative, now known as Kawangware Vision Centre, became a sanctuary for youth seeking to escape crime, drugs, and street life. At its inception, the business directly benefited around 20 young people.
“In the evenings, they left work exhausted, with no time for unproductive activities,” Mr Auka explains. The group’s hard work was evident when they produced and sold 1,000 bags in a single day.
Exhibitions played a crucial role in marketing their products, propelling Kawangware Vision Centre into a vibrant enterprise.
Changing lives
Two decades later, it continues to provide income and skills to the younger generation in one of Nairobi’s most challenging neighborhoods. Many trainees have since launched their ventures or secured jobs in similar industries.
Workers at the Kawangware Vision Centre, a workshop for Africa Bags designs, in Kawangware 56, Nairobi, on December 11, 2024.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Now located in Kawangware 56, the workshop has doubled in size and employs 13 youth aged 18 to 32, with additional casual labourers hired during busy periods.
“Operations start at 8 am. with a word of prayer before we begin working on orders,” Mr Auka shares.
The crafting process is meticulous. Khaki or white rolls of disposable paper are cut to client specifications before being folded into bags.
Designs are decorated using locally assembled, handmade screen printers. Logos and images, often in black, dominate the designs, though other colours like red, blue, and green are used upon request.
“Once we receive a company’s logo, we adjust the printers to fit the intended message,” Mr Auka explains.
“We then design the bags according to size by folding the paper,” explains Francis Maina, a worker responsible for the initial stages of crafting.
Mr Maina, 24, joined the Kawangware Vision Centre in 2019 after he was unable to afford secondary education.
“I nearly fell into drug and substance abuse. Thanks to this initiative, I found a different path,” he says.
The final touches involve attaching handles, often woven from wool by contracted workers. Supervisor Zipporah Mukalo, a 32-year-old mother of one, highlights the precision required.
“Each bag takes about 20 minutes to craft. On average, we produce over 1,000 bags daily,” she says.
The clientele
Clients include restaurants in Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as jewelry shops in Nakuru, Kisumu, and Nairobi, with prices ranging from Sh20 to Sh60 depending on size. Marketing labels on each product have been instrumental in attracting new customers through referrals.
Workers at the Kawangware Vision Centre, a workshop for Africa Bags designs, in Kawangware 56, Nairobi, on December 11, 2024.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
On competing with established bag-making companies, the entrepreneurs say research has been key to improving their products and staying ahead of competitors.
The Covid-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the business as hotels and restaurants shut down, with some clients closing permanently.
“We were greatly impacted,” Mr Auka laments. To survive, the team turned to research and embraced technology, transitioning from door-to-door marketing to websites and email campaigns. Strategic participation in exhibitions and consistent product tagging further revitalised the business.
Today, Kawangware Vision Centre stands resilient. Down payments are now required to minimise losses from uncommitted clients. “We learned from past experiences,” Mr Auka notes.
Proper management and employee training are credited with sustaining the venture’s recovery and growth.
The founders remain passionate about empowering Kawangware’s youth.
“This business proves the power of unity and partnerships,” Mr Githaiga says. Trusted collaboration enabled them to mobilise resources, such as the initial funding that jump-started their dream.
Lessons learned include the value of feedback and openness to correction, which continue to drive product and service improvement.
Future plans for Kawangware Vision Centre include scaling operations to reach international markets. “We believe our handcrafted bags have global appeal,” Mr Auka says confidently. The team also envisions establishing satellite workshops in other parts of Kenya to create even more opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
