Fikirini Katana, a Form One dropout, overcame conventional thinking to establish himself as a thriving entrepreneur in the landscaping industry.
Over the course of three years, his company, Mnarani Garden Centre, has altered not only the gardens but also Katana’s life.
Katana’s biography begins with an instinctive passion of flowers and gardening, which developed during his early years.
Captivated by the appeal of well-kept flower gardens, he became fascinated with the delicate art of developing and nurturing these natural treasures.
As his interest developed, so did his ability, and he began trimming and caring to gardens whenever he could.
However, it wasn’t until a fortunate encounter with a neighbor who praised him for helping plant flowers that the germ of business was planted.
That first payment was a revelation, opening his eyes to the possibility of turning his hobby into a business. The money obtained from that venture served as a trigger, propelling him into action.
With his newfound enthusiasm, Katana began his entrepreneurial career, focused on creating one-of-a-kind flower pots out of uncommon materials including sand, coral pieces, concrete, ballast and water.
Fully Focus: Kenyan DJ Who Rose From Working as Watchman to Making Over Ksh 30 Million Annually
This unique method distinguished his products from the usual clay plant containers available on the market.
His inventive spirit drew notice, and he quickly began working on projects other than pots—landscaping became his canvas.
From time to time, Katana generates around Ksh 100,000 a day from a single agreement involving the creation of flower pots and the revitalization of affluent individuals’ gardens.
‘”It has been three years of hard work. When I started, I only did small jobs in Kiwandani and other sprawling villages within Kilifi town, but, now, I have established myself and clients are coming to buy the pots and sometimes I get orders to do landscaping in private homes,” he said.
Inspired by the attractiveness of well-kept gardens, Katana began accepting contracts to revive gardens for affluent clientele, including soccer star MacDonald Mariga and Tawfiq Balala, among others.
“I did a landscaping job for Mariga in one of his homes in Vipingo Ridge and he was happy. Mr Balala has also been a regular buyer of my pots,” he said.
Despite his quick ascension, Katana stays focused on the challenges of his trade.
Crafting a huge pot, for example, takes a week to produce the mold and another two days to complete.
His masterpieces’ prices vary depending on their size, materials used, and labor invested.
Katana’s dedication to quality and distinctiveness has resulted in pots selling for anything from Ksh 2,500 to Ksh 10,000.
Furthermore, his expertise is not limited to pots; his landscaping services have also received praise.
The prices for his landscaping services range from Kah 25,000 to Ksh 70,000, depending on the intricacy of the project.
“Some designs are complicated and need well planned arrangements. For such jobs, I charge higher rates,” he added.
