Nixton Ambiche, the Migori artist creating beautiful decors from used jerrycans, is holding a finished basket. Photo courtesy.
Plastic waste has been a global crisis. Daily, Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, generates an estimated 2400 tonnes of solid waste, with plastic accounting for 20%.
The World Bank Group postulates that of the total wastes generated, only 45% is recycled and reused in an economically and environmentally beneficial manner.
Careless waste disposal is not just a practice in Nairobi; it is a trend in Kenya’s major urban and rural setups. The impact of waste piles in urban areas is devastating.
As the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), races against time to meet the 80% target for total waste management, individuals who share NEMA’s dream of a safe environment have not been left behind.
Nixton Ambiche, a changemaker hailing from Siaya County, has shifted residence to the Oruba Royal village, Migori County, where he is adding his little strides of environmental rehabilitation to the general national effort.
Pursuant to the provisions in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, every person is entitled to a clean and healthy environment; and has a duty to safeguard and enhance the environment.
However, the generation of waste continues to confront man in his living environment. For instance, biodegradable materials and biomedical wastes are a menace in Migori County.
As a certified Pharmacist, Nixton redeems his leisure time in collecting used plastic jerrycans, which he uses to forge an assortment of items ranging from baskets to pen holders, tissue holders and many more. From wasted jerrycans, Ambiche crafts all kinds of useful items for homesteads. Nixon’s craftsmanship can be traced back to 2022, when he lived in Meru town.
“I had a friend in Meru who used to do this work, and I got fascinated and requested him to train me. It was not easy. I made countless mistakes before I could get to this level”, said Ambiche.
Nixton recollects the losses he made at his early stages in the venture, as most of the raw materials which he bought with hard-earned cash were damaged through the crafting process.
“With the encouragement I received from my friend, I got better with time and reached a level where all my products were bought without second-guessing”, said Nixton.
Nixton’s ideas of designs are a result of his creativity, the internet and like-minded friends like Brian Olunga, who hails from Asembo. According to Nixton, forging a creative product from a 20-litre jerrycan takes between 60 – 70 minutes, while a small jerrycan takes a maximum of 46 minutes to turn into a usable household item.
“I can use this 10-litre jerrycan to craft item holders, such as utensil and cloth holders or even a lampshade. As for the 20-litre jerrycan, I can craft a basket with a beautiful lining inside”, said Nixton.
Using small drug tins, Nixton forge pen holders, uses 3-litre cooking oil jerrycans to make tissue holders and PVC pipes to fabricate lampshades. It is a process that creates anything in the form of a carrier that one can think of. From baskets with layers inside to plastic carrier bags, the products’ durability is undeniable.
With the aid of fashioned blades, Nixton cut out small pieces of jerrycans to draw patterns such as flowers, fish models, birds and so on. Most clients present designs of choice, which are drawn on jerrycans as per their desire.
It is an art which Nixon undertakes freestyle without tracing or referring to any template, a practice which he attributes to his innate artistry since childhood.
The plastic parts that fall off in the course of the forging process are later collected and weighed before being sold to recycling companies to make other products. It is a process whose end goal is environmental conservation. No single plastic is combusted or unsustainably discarded.
“These small particles that appear useless I sell to recycling companies, and they use the same to make utensils, water tanks, pipes and many more, so there is nothing useless in this world”, said Nixton.
“The economy is not very favourable, and one can hardly survive on a regular income. Therefore, whatever amount I make from this side hustle supplements my needs. I am no longer a slave of loans”, reiterated Nixton.
His journey has, on multiple occasions, been met with hurdles, as most people do not appreciate creativity. It is a painstaking process where any error leads to jerrycan damage or bodily injury.
A good number of surgical blades used in the incision process must be readied to limit disruptions in case of damage to a blade. To make the exercise less strenuous, hard jerrycans are first exposed to heat to reduce firmness before cutting.
“Sometimes potential clients get shocked when I tell them some of these products go for Kshs 750. In their mind, they are like; How can I buy a jerrycan at 750, not knowing the work and time that has gone into it?” said Nixton
Nevertheless, Nixon’s products have attracted clients nationally. Most of his marketing happens on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and direct WhatsApp contact via the public business phone number.
Some clients visit his workshop to purchase products as referrals. For his good work in waste management, Nixton has received gifts from multiple well-wishers.
“On many occasions, I have received calls from strangers who just reach out to appreciate me for the good work I am doing to our environment”, said Nixon.
On his TikTok timeline, “Ultimateartsstore_migori”, Nixton shares most of his finished products and the process of creating a variety of items. Here, he has built a huge community that resonates with his progressive creativity.
In what is seen as a strategy of adding more hands to waste management, Nixton has kick-started a campaign to train youths in crafting and strategic waste management.
“This industry is fast coming up, and so many youths want to be trained; we have to do just that”, said Nixton, who is making an impact in the community by training the neighbouring Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learners from schools, not limited to Migori Primary.
He purchases used yellow jerrycans from cooking oil retailers where a 20-litre jerrycan ranges between Kshs 80 – 100. The white jerrycans are bought from health facilities.
“Some businesses and hospitals give me these jerrycans for free; others sell them. But all the same, when burnt, the environment is polluted. So, buying them is the best choice because I have a job with them”, said Nixton.
“If termites keep on feasting on your cedar posts, plastic is the way to go. A mixture of ground plastic and sand can give you termite-resistant fencing poles for your compound”, said Nixton, who emphasized the value present in recycling plastic wastes. The proprietor said that an individual is as poor as he handles waste.
As Kenya’s creative space evolves, Nixton has urged youths to prioritize innovations that uphold sustainability goals. County governments and the National government have also been encouraged to identify and sustain youth-led ventures aimed at championing climate change.
“Parents should identify the potential of their children at a young age and motivate them to nurture it, and it will not only help them as individuals but will help the whole community. Let no parent belittle any gift, some can be good farmers, artists and so on”, said Nixton.
This story was featured in the recently launched the Luminate Africa Journal first edition, and can be downloaded on our website journal page.
