Peter Kinyua’s life as a street boy in Nakuru for seven years was hell.

Luckily, at 12 years old, a good samaritan showed up took him to Jesus Is Lord Children’s Home in Njoro.

Kinyua says it is at this home that he was able to study.

Read: Once a Street Boy, Now a Certified Doctor

He later pursued a sound engineering course in one of the institutions in Germany that saw him become a music producer after leaving the Children’s Home.

Peter Kinyua at his workshop where he grinds glass bottles to produce construction tiles.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

“Music production is where I started but with the COVID-19 pandemic, work went down,” says Kinyua.

It was during this time that the idea of using old glass bottles to make other products came to him.

Kinyua reveals that he looked around and realized how glass bottles and other broken glasses were being thrown everywhere hence polluting the environment.

He was however able to execute the idea early this year.

Also Read: From Living on the Street to Owning Beadwork Business

At his workshop in Free area, over 10 youth are helping with different duties.

The process involves collecting glass bottles from various points among them bars and wines and spirits shops within and without Free area estate, before sorting them depending on their colours.

This, he says, is to help remove the stickers and other dirt to ensure the bottles are clean before they are smashed using a harmer to sizable particles, that can fit in the grinder machine.

Peter Kinyua operates the grinder in his workshop at Free Area estate.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

He is however quick to note that the smashing is also done in the category of the colours to avert mixing them.

Kinyua was recently issued with an introductory letter from the Department of Environment that now allows him to collect the glass bottles.

Some of the items created by Kinyua from glass.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

This, he says, has addressed the obstacles that he used to face in the beginning when some people who did not know him would question why he was collecting bottles.

He proudly states that within six months in the business, he has received some orders for the tiles and table countertops.

Some of the tiles displayed at Kinyua's workshop in Free Area.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

Besides, the powder remaining after the grinding does not go to waste as it is mixed with cement to make products such as building blocks and the house ventilation blocks.

Moving forward, Kinyua has a dream of purchasing a better machine that can grind up to 10 tonnes a day.

pmambili@gmail.com

Related: Three Reformed Street Children Get a Chance to Join High School

Nakuru man finds second chance in new glass bottle business

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Pristone Mambili