Ciru Waweru Waithaka, is the Chief Executive Officer of Funkidz Furniture, a company that makes home and school children’s furniture.
Unlike most furniture companies, Funkidz Furniture makes its products using recycled timber.
Ciru narated that a government ban on logging of timber, her main raw material, created a scarcity which increased the cost of manufacturing. This led to low business and she considered closing shop.
However, she noticed that there was a lot of waste timber in households and in the corporate world which she could use as a raw material in her company.
Together with her team, they went into homes, companies, corporates and businesses asking for any timber waste. The team collects broken, damaged and old furniture and recycle them .
Using recycled timber not only reduces the cost of production but also saves trees.
In her manufacturing, she incorporates other materials such as cloth and belts to minimize the use of timber. The furniture is available at a competitive price as a desk and chair goes for Ksh.3,000.
Waithaka stated that her goal is to make affordable furniture for children not only in Nairobi but in Kenya.
“We set out to manufacture quality furniture in Kenya. Importing is not an option,” Waithaka reiterated.
Ciru asserted that she was driven by the need to run her business in a sustainable way. She said that in the manufacture of furniture for an entire classroom she manages to save seven trees.
“None of this furniture is made from cutting trees.” she asserted.
Her unique furniture not only uplifts classrooms but also gives schools an opportunity to give back to society.
Funkidz Furniture provides furniture to schools as a donation funded by Friend of Funkidz , Friends of Children, Friends of Kenya. For schools to benefit from the programme, they have to show that they have at least 10% forest coverage in the land occupied by the school.
