What can we learn from the pandemic? A story from Mount Kenya.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mount Kenya region relied on steel products that were brought from factories in Narobi. There was no single steel production facility in the region and especially in Nyeri. Among these products included reinforcing bars, nails, chain-link and so forth. To curb the spread of the pandemic the government of Kenya introduced a lockdown in all counties in the country. The lockdown restricted all movement between counties. This affected the distribution of diverse products since most of the steel items are manufactured in Nairobi. There was a dire need to diversify the manufacturing factories to different regions including the most remote areas.
Due to this, Anthony Maimba started a small steel manufacturing factory in a region to produce these main steel products like nails and binding wires to meet the regions market demand. For the products they couldn’t manufacture, they would source in bulk and distribute alongside the ones they do manufacture for their clients that own shops, hardware’s and in construction sites.
The initiative has turned out to be a huge relief for the regions consumers since most customers don’t have to wait for long to receive their goods, they also do not have to invest so much in buying goods in bulk so that they can be delivered to them.
Small hardware’s have benefited the most since they can buy in small quantities from Anthony's company and they deliver to them efficiently using motorbikes. The factory has also employed 8 full time employees.
On World Innovation and Creativity Day, 21 April 2021, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa invited entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives across the region to submit the most innovative solutions they have made that have helped their initiatives, start ups, businesses re-establish or survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. This forms part of the FNF 2021 global campaign titled RE:START21
We ask, what can we learn from the pandemic? Let's talk new ideas! #Restart21