Mukurweini residents seek funds to increase production.
For years, Peter Maina produced vegetables in Mukurweini, Nyeri County until a group of businessmen from the Asian community started flocking the area to harvest soil.
Crops, save for Napier grass were not flourishing in that village and they had nothing much to do with their farms. But they did not know they were sitting on a goldmine. Mr Maina did not know that his farm was rich a type of clay used to make ceramics, porcelain and bricks.
The businessmen bought a lorry of the clay at Sh7,000 and Sh16,000 depending on tonnage. But residents now say the pricing was a raw deal.
On Mukurwe-ini-Murang’a road, potters and brick-makers are spread all over across the road.
Everyone wants to craft something from traditional pots, building bricks, multi-purpose energy saving jikos, flower pots among other accessories.
“We make environment-friendly products that do not harm our surroundings,” Mr Maina said.
Prices range from Sh100 to Sh2,000, depending on the size and art.
Mr Maina says he can make 100 jikos a day having employed three men.
“The jikos reduce use of firewood and emits less smoke and they keep houses warm,” said Mr Maina.
The group now wants the Mukurwe-ini ceramics company revived to help them market their own products.
He is focused on securing funds to produce in bulk to reach a wider market.
“We have the willingness and the manpower to make all the products that the big companies make but we lack money to import state-of-the-art machineries to do the work for us,” said Mr Maina.
According to Fredrick Rop an expert in ceramic technology said the composition of soil vary with the kind of product one intends to make.
He said the kind of clay used to make tiles is different from the one used to make utensils because the iron content of the soil in tiles should be higher to about 10 per cent.
Once the final product is made one is supposed to dry the green ware which is also known as liquid firing- exposing the product to certain heat temperatures preferably 900 degrees.
The second stage is dip glazing (the coating) which is the fastest in pottery as it gives products a uniform coating under which it undergoes the second firing known as elise firing done between 1, 100 degrees and 1, 400 degrees in a Kilm machine.
On the other hand, the residents are also benefiting from making building bricks that most people are embracing to build permanent houses.
“The demand for the bricks is quite low because not so many people are aware of the long-lasting benefits of the bricks as opposed to the ordinary stones,” said Mr Denis Maina who makes the bricks.
Ina day he can make more than 400 bricks which involves mixing sand soil with water and forming a brick measuring 12 ft by eight feat using a wooden box.
To construct a one bedroom house using the bricks, one may require 1, 200 pieces that go for Sh10 per piece while the labourers are paid Sh2 for every brick.
The advantage of the bricks in building houses is that it cannot break, requires minimal time to construct a house and it is cheap making owning a home cheap. The bricks are also used as decorations.
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