Kericho Mechanic Builds a KSh 300,000 Car From Scrap Metal

Calvins Odhiambo, a 20-year-old mechanic in Kericho County is a proud owner of "Jeep", the name he gave to his car which he created using scrap metal.



Odhiambo is a Standard Eight dropout, who repairs motorcycles at a garage in KCC area in Kericho town where he was trained through apprenticeship.



A firstborn in a family of six children, he had a dream of becoming an engineer but he could not proceed to secondary school for lack of fees, considering his parents were tailors.



The vehicle's bonnet has a 150cc  engine of his Kingbird motorcycle and is four-wheeled but smaller than a tuk-tuk.

The car also has six gears including the reverse which all perform their respective roles.

Nevertheless, according to his colleagues, they term the creation of "Jeep" as a miracle since they can't seem to understand how he managed to coordinate all the crucial parts, such as the engine, the steering wheel, and the gears.



Speaking to the Daily Nation, Odhiambo explained how he was able to undertake such a  creation.



"It all started as a joke. I collected scrap metal and started making the skeleton of the car. Some said my efforts would not amount to anything but here I am. It took me three months to complete it," he narrated.



The mechanic also revealed that with his daily wages, he was able to buy other requirements in bits and eventually ended up with a fuel gauge, headlights, wiring, indicators, and other parts.



"I lack money to come up with something of higher quality. For this one to run, I had to work extra hard to earn more. If I had better training, I would have come up with something bigger and better," he stated.



According to Odhiambo, his skill which has seen him create the "Jeep" is God gifted.



 "I realized I was talented when I was young. My schoolmates would report me to teachers for playing with items during classes... my innovativeness was manifesting itself," he recounted to the Daily Nation.

Nonetheless, Odhiambo further revealed that he drives it to and from work and says police officers have not flagged him for lacking permits and insurance.



"I have driven it from town to Brooke and Kapsoit. I drive it home every day. No police officer has stopped me," he stated and claimed the car has reached a top speed of 140 kilometers per hour.



He further claimed that even though it's not part of his plan, if he was to sell his precious "Jeep," it would cost the buyer around KSh300,000.



From time to time, he still fine-tunes parts of his creation such as the fuel gauge.



However, where the manufacturing of cars is concerned, he does not know where to start.



While the car he created shines the light on the achievement of his dream, he still cannot afford to advance his skills at a learning institution.