In the heart of the Great Rift Valley, artisans are blending tradition with entrepreneurship, turning age-old crafts into sustainable businesses.
These creators are not just preserving their heritage but also monetising their skills to support their families. Samuel Ombacho’s success at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint
Samuel Ombacho has been running his curio shop for 15 years at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint, where his artwork has become a livelihood. Selling Maasai beads, shangas, bangles, and traditional shukas, his true passion lies in soapstone carvings.
“I do everything myself. I get the soapstone from Kisii. Then I craft it into carvings of, among other things, wild animals in Kenya. Many of the tourists prefer soapstone carvings of the elephant,” he shares.
Ombacho’s journey to the Viewpoint began in 1979. Growing up in Kisii, he was surrounded by soapstone and learned to carve from an early age.
“When I finished my high school education, my parents gave me Sh300 to start my life. I travelled to Nyahururu, rented a small curio shop, and began with a few soapstone carvings. People got interested, and I increased my orders. I later moved to a shop at the Equator in Nanyuki before coming back to the Viewpoint in 1987. Since then, this has been my place of operation,” he recounts.
He works the soapstone with precision, crafting it into the desired shapes.
“First, I carve it into the shape, then wash it thoroughly until it is smooth. Afterward, I use sandpaper to smooth it further and paint it with colours that appeal to many people,” Ombacho explains.
Most of his clients are foreign tourists. “The peak season for me is between January and May, when we get many visitors. Apart from soapstone animal carvings, I’ve noticed many clients also prefer carved candle holders and table mats,” he adds.
The curio shop has not only allowed Ombacho to pursue his artistic passion but has also been a lifeline for his family.
Simon Ombacho, an artisan at his curio shop located at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint.
Photo credit: Pool
“I paid dowry for my wife from the proceeds of this shop. I have also educated my children from the income I get,” he says, noting that he can make between Sh30,000 and Sh50,000 in a good month.
Marylyne’s journey from hardship to entrepreneurship
In 1997, Marylyne Keino’s life took a difficult turn when she was forced to leave her marital home after the birth of a fourth daughter.
Her husband, desiring a son, could not accept it. Alone with four children, she turned to family and well-wishers for help.
After the post-election violence, she found a new path. She joined a peace-building dance group and rediscovered her Nandi heritage, including its traditional jewellery. Inspired, she began crafting necklaces, bangles, waist beads, and headbands using cowrie shells and beads to sell.
“Most of my clients are students or people who rent out beads to wear during cultural events. The best times are when I have clients for dowry payments and weddings. These are big boosts for my business, as they often buy jewellery and cultural clothes in large quantities,” she says.
This work has enabled her to support her four children, buy land in Uasin Gishu County, and build a home.
“In a month, I can make around Sh30,000, but during December, which is the peak season, the profits can go as high as Sh50,000,” she explains.
While the money is helpful, she also hopes to inspire young people to embrace her community’s culture, which she fears is slowly fading.
The Ilchamus Morans
Abel Nakwechu, from the Ilchamus community, is part of a dance group that performs traditional dances and folk songs at luxury hotels and cultural events.
“I am a professional dancer, and I love my culture. The Ilchamus are a small sub-tribe of the Maa community, and we’ve noticed that our culture is being forgotten. My friends and I formed this dance group to promote our culture, especially as Western influences spread in our land,” the 25-year-old engineer shares.
The group also serves as a financial venture for the young Morans, who combine their earnings from business, farming, and other ventures.
“Coming from a marginalised group, access to employment is difficult, even when we are educated. We have very few people in positions of power, so we have to find alternative sources of income,” Nakwechu says.
At Lake Bogoria Spa Resort, where I met Nakwechu, the Ilchamus Morans performed Oyee by Lemarti.
“We practise for many performances, but we specialise in folk songs and dances. While showcasing our talent, we aim to entertain our clients. We also record our own music, though this is limited to when we can raise enough funds for it,” Nakwechu explains.
“We meet every week to brainstorm new songs and choreography, coming up with most of the songs together as a group.”
