When you are in Kisumu, you may come across gift bags, diaries, envelopes, picture frames, or stationery with a unique texture and appearance. This stationery is made from water hyacinth and has begun making waves in the lakeside city as companies adopt environmentally friendly production methods for packaging materials.
Ironically, in 1998, large portions of Lake Victoria were covered in water hyacinth, which posed a threat to fisherfolk whose livelihoods were endangered by the persistent weed.
The weed was considered an environmental disaster, as locals experienced dwindling fish stocks and the plant spread along the shorelines, forming thick mats that covered an estimated 20,000 hectares of the lake by 1998, visible from outer space.
A 2024 report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a body founded by the UN Environment Programme, described water hyacinth, (Pontederia crassipes), as the world’s most widespread invasive alien species.
Now over 20years later, locals of the lakeside down have found way to adapt, and live with the species, transforming it into an opportunity for business and creativity.
One such venture is the Takawiris Craft, founded by siblings, Michael Otieno and his brother Gabriel Okere. The siblings, driven by environmental stewardship, decided to produce eco-friendly bags by recycling papers collected from various establishments and water hyacinth drawn from the lake. They set up Takawiri Craft in 2007 at the height of the hyacinth invasion but were forced to shut down due to post-election violence that broke out later that year.
However, five years later, in 2011, the siblings, determined to make their dream work, revived the venture.
“As we recycle the discarded papers, we process them along with the water hyacinth. We realised that the weed increases the durability of the stationery and packaging materials we use. We also wanted to produce quality recycled materials, and the bonding properties of the weed make for strong and reusable packaging items,” said Michael during the Grow My Business Forum which was part of M-PESA Sokoni activities in Kisumu County.
The process of transforming the water weed into stationery is labour-intensive, as it relies on casual workers who manually collect the weed from the shores of Lake Victoria. The weed is then transported to their facility, where it’s chopped using knives and then sundried. It takes approximately 8 to 12 hours for the weed to dry, but depending on the weather patterns, it may take 2 days to be completely dry.
After it has dried, the weed is crushed using a pulping machine and mixed with water, then suspended on a wire frame where particles are sieved and the remainder is used to make pulp.
Once the paper is dry, it is passed through a calendaring machine, which presses the paper to obtain a smooth finish.
Speaking on the sidelines of the M-PESA Sokoni Festival. Takawiri Co-founder Gabriel revealed that while the business promotes sustainability, its market is mainly comprised of curious tourists and fascinated out-of-town clients. He admits that the innovative trade is still finding its footing in the local market, giving credence to the phrase that “a prophet is rarely recognised in his hometown”.
This has not discouraged them despite the moderate uptake of their products in their backyard. He reveals that their efforts have not gone unnoticed, having been profiled by local and international media outlets about their sustainable business ideas.
“We have created jobs for at least 10 people while keeping the environment clean. We may not have a big market since we produce according to the orders we receive. Our products are popular among our clientele, though we are still a small company, but we are determined to expand beyond Kisumu,” George said.
He said Takawiri is doing its part in shaping the eco-friendly conversation in Kisumu and beyond. He forecasts a bright future for their business, banking on their loyal customer base to pave the way for sustainable success.
