When he was employed as a plant engineer at the Eveready East Africa Limited in 1989, little did Charles Motari foresee the abrupt end of his job 25 years later.
Motari has been relying on this job as his only source of livelihood and when the company's Managing Director announced the closure of the giant dry cell manufacturer, Motari had to start preparing on how to deal with life to cater his four children.
His eldest child is at the university while the youngest is a KCPE candidate this year.
At the Eveready Company Headquarters, located at Industrial Area in Nakuru, we found the energetic engineer signing his clearance papers. The last indication that his company has become a victim of cheap dry cell imports.
Back at his home in Mawanga Estate, Motari recalled how he used to travel to work every morning, bringing up his children from his hard earned savings.
“'It was so enjoyable working at Eveready and I wish that the government would put in more efforts to protect local industries. Eveready products were incomparable even in the East and Central African Region and losing the market is definitely a great loss,” said Motari.
On plans by the company to venture into real estate, Motari expressed little hope that retrenched workers would be absorbed back into the company.
He noted that those who specialised in engineering and other technical work would rarely find an opportunity to work for the company anymore.
Though unaware of where to start, Motari said “'I will slowly catch up with life and the hustle of knocking one door after another looking for an opportunity. I will take whichever that comes my way.”