There has been a lot of emphasis on formal education over the years which have resulted to so many people believing that it only requires one to attend school to acquire necessary skills to be successful in life.
Most people will therefore end up foregoing their God-given talents and flood into education institution to acquire what everyone believes is the key to success.
However, there are those who have defied this old myth and decided to venture into creative business by making use of their informally learnt skills.
Meet Daniel Kyalo a man who has demystified this belief and has been making a living from the lucrative curio business and making of designer necklaces and wrist bands by the use of beads.
Located in Nakuru's Maasai Market opposite Merica Hotel, Kyalo has been in this business for the last ten years since completing his high school education.
Born and raised in Machakos County, Kyalo grew up watching his dad and grandfather carve sculptures out of the locally available wood and it is then that he started developing interest in this area.
“I used to spend so much time in the company of my dad and grandfather who spent much of their time making wood carvings and after returning home from school, I would try to imitate what they did by making my own carvings, a skill which I perfected after several years of practice,” said Kyalo.
However, Kyalo said he never took it so seriously until he completed high school in the year 2007 when he decided to venture fully into the curio business.
He would prepare carvings of animals and human beings and hawk them around the streets of Machakos, although the business did not earn as much as he anticipated.
“I had heard so much about Nakuru, especially how there were so many tourists who visited the area because of its vast historical sites and since this business was so much associated with tourists, I decided to relocate to Nakuru to establish my business there, I had the belief that there it would be more profitable there than in Machakos,” said Kyalo.
Kyalo decided to locate his business at Maasai Market because of its location in the central business district of the town which is associated with several banks and hotels.
He admits that his initial focus was on the tourists adding that the local market has also promoted significantly into the growth of his business.
"The business however did not pick at once but the process was gradual and finally my patience bore fruits," said Kyalo.
He is happy with the progress the business has been making over the years which has enabled him to hire other two guys who help him in the work.
“I have other three guys who help me in doing this work especially in the carving which is done by two guys while I do the final touches on the carvings. The other one who is much older helps me in selling,” added Kyalo.
He believes that the business will be prosperous especially due to the Obama's visit this month.