Hudson Sifuna, a talented artisan from Olesrikon Kajiado County, has made impressive strides in his Jua kali ventures.
The self-taught welder has made mesmerizing metal sculptures of the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto.
According to Sifuna, the hands-on skill has enabled him to fend for his family. He he has also created job opportunities by hiring some young men to work at his shop.
He has been practicing the art for at least 15 years and has been able to pay bills and put food on the table.
"This work has helped me, I have taken my children through school. However, the job is difficult and one needs to be well-energized. As a welder, you need to be cautious of the dangerous fumes from the machines,” he advised.
Locals have lauded the dedication, passion, and talent of the middle-aged man. They have called upon the government to intervene and boost the technical industry.
"He has quality work, his vision is akin to God's vision when he created the world. It is good for him to train others to ensure his skill is carried on,” Joshua Githinji, an area resident.
Notably, others called for his recruitment into the area technical school to train the youth.
"I ask the government to take us the youth and train us on this skill so we can better our lives and rely less on others for support,” one of the employees stated.
Sifuna also makes sculptures of animals like the giraffe and ostrich and large sculptures of tiny animals like the butterfly and the fish.
Other notable pieces at his workshop include leaf-like representations of the former first lady Margret Kenyatta and Rachel Ruto while they conducted their duties.
However, one of the challenges Sifuna pointed out was the lack of a consistent market for his masterpieces.
The artist also makes sculptures from glass and his works are at times displayed at the Kitengela Stained Glass Studios.
