An accounting graduate from Kibabii University in Bungoma County is proving that a degree and a trade can go hand in hand, after building a carpentry business that now employs fellow students.
Rodgers Nananga, who hails from Kibabii village in Kanduyi Constituency, launched his furniture venture in 2022 after experimenting with several other income streams to keep himself afloat financially during his studies.
Selling chips, brokering second-hand clothing, and dabbling in other small hustles came before he finally settled on woodwork.
“So, I studied accounting. We started this business a little while back in 2022. Though it wasn’t the first business I was doing. I was selling chips, working as a broker for second-hand clothes, and doing other small businesses before I ventured into furniture,” Rodgers explained.
From Campus Hustle to a Functioning Workshop
What sets Rodgers apart is not just that he chose carpentry over a desk job, but that his workshop has become a lifeline for other students at Kibabii University.
Several young people balancing coursework with financial pressure have found part-time work at his shop.
One of them, Caleb, described how campus life pushed him to seek an income outside the classroom.
“At the same time, you need to meet your needs. So it forced me to look for a hustle that could at least help me manage my stay within the school compound,” he said.
Another student, Gillian Odhiambo, shared a similar experience.
“When I joined Kibabii University, life became so hard sometimes. I had to look for ways to fund myself while I was still doing my course,” he said.
Rodgers’ story carries a straightforward message for young Kenyans navigating the gap between formal education and economic reality: a classroom certificate opens doors, but practical skills can build them.
By combining his academic background with hands-on trade, the Bungoma graduate has created something that textbooks rarely teach: a functioning small business that supports not just himself, but the students around him.
