How it all started...
The journey started one holiday when I visited my home in rural Nyeri (Kenya) where I grew up.
After a festive meal of nyama choma (goat barbeque), as a habit rather than necessity, I needed a toothpick… to clear up what always seems to get stuck between our teeth!
Made in China!
To my amazement, the toothpicks were ‘Made in China’. Over 10,000km away. China has one of the best models of poverty eradication that Africa should emulate. However, I could not understand how such basic items of everyday use could not be manufactured locally, empower the rural folk with jobs, eradicate poverty, and restore dignity to our population.
Africa has massive a challenge! Africa has become one huge consumer market. We are not a production economy. Whether services or goods, we tend to depend on imports for everything.