Dhanji Lilidar Parmar's name does not make up the list of the nation's popular persons. Actually, he is not even known to many in his hometown of Nakuru.
The Indian native was, however, the brain behind the founder of the nation and the first President of the republic Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's leather jackets, made of the Kudu antelope's skin.
He was contracted with the responsibility in early 1968, when the President indirectly approached him in pursuit of his tailoring skills.
Dhanji who was then in his 20s and operated from his father's tailoring shop along Kenyatta Avenue recalls being approached by a man in police uniform, obviously causing fear as Asians were being repatriated at the time.
“I saw a convoy of government vehicles outside the shop, then a man in police uniform stepped out and walked straight in,” he told the standard on Sunday.
The man whom he later came to know was the provincial administrator gave him an assignment that changed his life, as despite resulting to a sudden friendship with the President, more jobs came calling as top government officials came for his clothing.
Kenyatta's successor, ex-president Daniel Moi recognized Parmar's good job, awarding him with a Head of State Commendation in 1995.
Coincidentally, Parmar's home is right opposite the Nakuru State Lodge along the Oginga Odinga's avenue.
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