Meet Nyalando, a potter from Kendu Bay

Описание: Meet Evelyne Awino Nyalando, popularly known as Mama Achieng. The mother of 7 who hails from Kanyonje in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County, is well known for her pottery business. She started the business during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I love doing this business because it helps me generate money to supplement the family income. Covid-19 changed everything for us. Everything was tough because we could not go to the market to sell our pots,” she says. Some of the products that she makes include cooking pots, water storage containers, flower vases, and chicken warmers. The process of making the pots starts with collecting the mud soil that is easily found along the local river. Since her pots are mainly handmade she ensures that the soil is stored in a watertight place to preserve the moisture. “Getting the perfect texture of the soil is important because it determines the quality of the pots. The pots go for different prices depending on their size and purpose. Keen on ensuring the trade is passed down generations, she has started an initiative to teach young girls in the village. A self-help group has also been established, an initiative she says has brought in extra income for families in Kanyonje village.