An artisan is a skilled craft worker who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by hand.
Unlike white-collar jobs, it is not mandatory for an artisan to have a tertiary academic qualification to perform his job well.
There is also less investment capital in starting an artisan shop and a high return on investment.
Kenyans.co.ke compile 4 artisan jobs that can earn you a fortune in Kenya.
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in the electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment.
In Kenya, you can become an electrician by taking a Grade 1 Artisan Certificate in Electrical and Electronic engineering which takes only 6 months.
According to Kenyans Consult (2022), the cost of wiring a house in Kenya ranges from Ksh50,000 to Ksh500,000.
This is the total cost of purchasing the wiring materials and the labor charges. An electrician can make a profit of up to Ksh250,000 doing such installations.
This means an electrician can easily make Ksh1 million in a year through the job.
Masonry
Masonry is the art and craft of building and fabricating in stone, clay, brick, or concrete block.
Most vocational training institutes in Kenya offer Craft Certificates in Masonry at an affordable fee.
You only need the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) to undertake the course.
According to Kenya Real Estate (2021) building journal, a 3-bedroom house in Kenyan’s suburbs will cost at least Ksh1 million with labor costing 30 per cent of the quoted amount.
If you are heading the project, you are likely to earn Ksh300,000; after which you will be left with Ksh100,000 once you pay other workers.
With tens of satellite towns sprouting across the country every year, it is possible for a mason to get such a project every month.
Carpentry
Carpentry is simply defined as the art of shaping and assembling structural woodwork.
While most carpenters in Kenya have perfected their art through experience, there are training institutes in Kenya that offer Certificates in Carpentry and Joinery.
Kenyans.co.ke researched various woodwork structures available within the Kenyan market and established that on average, a bed costs Ksh20,000 and a table costs an average of Ksh15,000.
This means that a carpenter making these items can make Ksh100,000 in a month and take Ksh1 million to the bank in a year.
It is worth noting that the prices quoted are average and there exist cheaper or more expensive items than the price mentioned above.
Mechanic
You can become a mechanic in Kenya by taking Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics.
According to Payscale (2022), a mechanic in Kenya earns between Ksh18,591 to Ksh93,352 per month.
If you open your own garage, you can make an average of Ksh5,000 in net profit per day which would translate to Ksh150,000 per month.
Annually, and with a good saving culture, you can bank Ksh1 million as a mechanic.
While the above jobs can make you a millionaire in just a year, there are other factors that get into play.
You need financial discipline to be able to earn such an amount. This can be attained by developing a saving culture and avoiding unnecessary spending.
Just like any other job or business, there is a need for good communication and management skills if you want to succeed as an artisan.
Lastly, while the expected income has been backed by data and statistics, they are average and not everyone will always earn the same amount. For example, there are carpenters selling a bed for Ksh3,000 and others selling the same for Ksh300,000.
