Many people consider bones as waste just after munching all the meat from them.
This, however, is not the case in Kibera for two women who have converted the waste bones into a thriving business.
Mary Wanjiru and Salome Kimani from Kianda village have perfected their skills in creating necklaces and bracelets from the otherwise useless dry bones.
The duo collects bones from slaughterhouses across Nairobi where they take to their local Kibera-based jua kali factory. As Salome notes, the process of making the ornaments is simple. She said the first process is to boil the bones to remove the bits of meat and any fats that could be stuck along the bone marrow. Thereafter, the bones are cut into smaller sizes depending on the kind of brands one wishes to design. The next process is grinding the cuttings into finer shapes and also smoothing them in readiness for the final step that involves varnishing and creating art on them.
Wanjiru and Salome have been able to fend for their families without any difficulties. They said that on an average day they pocket close to sh600 shillings. On good days their business can give them up to sh1, 000 shillings. However, just like any other business, they encounter challenges. Their products are not valued so much by the local slum dwellers. Most of their buyers come from the foreign tourists visiting the slums.