Martin Ondiek

Carpenter, Kariobangi

I was educated up to standard six in my home area of Siaya, in the countryside. Then my parents died and I had to fend for myself, so I joined a village polytechnic and trained as a carpenter.
When I moved to Kariobangi, I found it difficult to get a job. There’s a need for furniture in Kariobangi so I decided to set up a carpentry workshop.

I was lucky because ActionAid was building a school and they gave me an order for 35 desks. They gave me a cash advance so I could buy new equipment, extra materials and employ some men. Without the advance I couldn’t have met the order, as I only make a small profit.

I’ve three men working for me and we make chairs, dining-tables, sofas, sideboards and wardrobes. In front of my workshop is an uncovered road and an open sewer. When it rains the road becomes knee deep in mud and the sewer overflows. There’s also no electricity in Kariobangi, so if I wanted to get any modern machinery I’d have to buy a generator, which I can’t afford.

My wife Pamela and our three children have stayed in our home area, where she makes money selling fish. When we’ve enough spare money they come and visit me during the school holidays.

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