Why the Mitungi business is still thriving in Nakuru
A display of Jerrycans at Kairu's shop located at the old bus stage in Nakuru.
Despite a fast-changing world where technology has enabled people to enjoy many luxuries in their lives, it seems that some things will never change, or at least not any time soon.
This is according to Zachariah Kairu, a businessman in Nakuru who has been selling plastic jerrycans or mitungi for the past 28 years.
Mitungi are commonly used in households to store water, especially in areas where water is scarce.
His shop at the old bus station in Nakuru is stacked high with mitungi of various sizes.
Kairu notes that he inherited the business from his parents.
Zachariah Kairu , a businessman selling Jerrycans at the old bus stage in Nakuru city center.
"My family has been in this business for 28 years. When I was growing up, I used to help run the shop from time to time. Looking back, the business has changed a lot. Some time ago, when the bus stage was here, our profit margins were good compared to now," says Kairu.
The buses, he says, attracted traders who would buy in bulk and resell in other towns.
Now they depend mostly on locals for customers.
Asked where they get the containers from, he says their biggest suppliers are hotels that buy cooking oil in bulk, hospitals that have containers for non-corrosive chemicals, and companies that transport detergent formulas to various organisations.
At his shop, a 20-litre mutungi sells for Sh150, a 10-litre for Sh70 and a five-litre for Sh50. Kairu also charges an extra Sh20 for containers that have been thoroughly cleaned.
Five liter containers on sale at Kairu's shop at the old bus stage in Nakuru city center.
"We sell the Mitungis all year round. Our customers range from drivers who want containers to use when buying fuel, people in the liquid soap business, individuals who buy cans to store water at home, and mostly water vendors in settlements. In a good month, I can make Sh10,000 in sales," he says.
Running the business, he says, has not been a walk in the park, mentioning that the lack of a regulator in the industry has attracted unfair competition.
A resident in Kaptembwa carrying containers she uses to store water at home.
"More people are venturing into this business, so there is competition. Prices are set according to how much you get the containers for, if you get them at a lower price, they are resold almost at a throwaway price, which affects our sales," he said.