Samuel Gatonye's passion for vehicles made him design and build them from scratch in 1996 when he melted metals to make car parts.
The automobile enthusiast from Nyahururuin Nakuru took the initiative to contribute to the manufacturing industry in the country.
He currently has a collection of four-wheeled cars in his workshop that he says are speedy and able to manoeuvre in both rural and urban areas.
Speaking to Inooro Tv, Gatonye revealed that his curiosity played a key role in the sharpening of his ability.
“I have been a motorist for over 16 years, I have a passion for cars and my curiosity fueled my career in making cars. I always want to know how car parts work. In 1996 I melted metal to make car parts,” he explained.
11 years later, in 2007, he made his first car, the BJ50, from old materials. He, however, could not insure the vehicle with any insurance company as they deemed it unroadworthy.
After the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, Gatonye sought insurance for his self-made vehicles.
Throughout his innovative career, Gatonye made a motorbike which passed insurance tests. His innovation attracted both criticism and admiration from different quarters.
"In 2017, I made the BJ50 to commemorate Kenya at 50. Unlike the first one, this was made with new materials," he stated.
"I encourage anyone in the invention business to get a patent for their product. I almost lost my invention when a foreigner accused me of stealing an idea," he cautioned.
Furthermore, Gatonye noted that he was self-motivated as the inception stage was affected by financial constraints. He resorted to getting loans from a local bank to fund his ideas.
The lack of proper machinery in the country, he lamented, compounded the difficulty of assembling in the country.
"The BJ50 has come a long way. However it is not where I would like it to be, I am working on improving the car to make it as unique as possible," he added.
BJ50 joins other locally built or assembled motor vehicles in the country including those manufactured by General Motors and Mobius Motors.
