Wooden pallets have become a source of income for Kenyans who are turning them into creative items.
One piece of evidence of the creative items made by the reused wooden structures was the main entrance at Green Park terminal in Nairobi during the launch of Hustler Fund by President William Ruto on Wednesday, November 30.
The entrance was designed perfectly using pallets, creating an appealing visual impression.
Pallets cost Ksh250 to around Ksh700 depending on the vendors and locations.
Pallets Intended Use
Pallets are flat transport structure which stably supports goods while being lifted by a forklift, a pallet jack, a front loader, a jacking device, or an erect crane.
They were specially designed to help in transporting goods overseas. Goods in shipping containers are often placed on a pallet secured with strapping, stretch wrap or shrink wrap.
Pallets were first invented in the period from 1101 to 1200. They were introduced to replace older forms of crating like wooden boxes and barrels.
New Designs
Besides the entrance displayed at Green Park Terminus, different designers are making creative items from pallets.
In Nairobi, a bed made using pallets costs north of Ksh45,000. Some designers making creative beds from wooden structures include Home of Pallets and Crates, which markets them on social media platforms.
Some beds are further fitted with LED lights to add their aesthetic value. For instance, Nderind Furniture, based in Nairobi, sells such modified beds at Ksh36,658.
Additionally, some designers are reusing the pallets to make different interior structures such as wardrobes, cabinets, TV stands and dining kitchens among others.
Designers ask for as much as Ksh100,000 to make a kitchen cabinet using pallets and other outdoor furnitures.
With the rising demand for pallet-made items, their prices have soared all over the country, with designers earning a fortune from them.
