Hailing from Kenya, Fikirini Katana’s remarkable rise from a Form One dropout to a flourishing entrepreneur in the landscaping industry is an inspiring tale that transcends the norms of traditional success.
Three years ago, armed with little more than a profound love for flowers and gardens, Katana embarked on a bold venture – Mnarani Garden Centre.
What started as a small passion project quickly evolved into a thriving business, occasionally earning about Sh100,000 from a single contract of making flower pots and giving the rich people’s gardens a makeover, thanks to his unwavering dedication and unique approach.
He saw an opportunity to create not just any flower pots, but exquisite pieces of art crafted from sand, coral chips, cement, ballast, and water.
These intricate flower pots stood in stark contrast to the common clay containers that populated the market.
Katana’s creativity extended beyond his pots.
He ventured into landscaping, transforming outdoor spaces into mesmerizing works of art. His client roster boasts names that would make anyone’s jaw drop – Tawfiq Balala, the former football sensation MacDonald Mariga, and several of Kenya’s affluent individuals with holiday homes along the picturesque coastal town.
“I did a landscaping job for Mariga in one of his homes in Vipingo Ridge and he was happy. Mr Balala has also been a regular buyer of my pots,” he says.
The journey to this level of success wasn’t a bed of roses, so to speak. A mould for one of Katana’s larger pots takes an entire week to create, followed by an additional two days to complete the pot.
These pots, each a labor of love and ingenuity, fetch prices ranging from Sh2,500 to Sh10,000, depending on factors such as size, materials used, and intricate details. His garden lamps, which complement his landscaping projects, command a price of Sh5,000.
For landscaping, he charges from Sh25,000 to Sh70,000 depending on the set-up. “Some designs are complicated and need well planned arrangements. For such jobs, I charge higher rates,” he added.
Yet, Katana’s business is not solely about crafting pots and orchestrating landscapes; it’s about creating an experience.
The attention to detail and the heart he pours into every piece is evident in the satisfaction of his clients. And while the financial rewards have been substantial, his journey is far from just a pursuit of profits.
For him, each project is a realization of his childhood fascination with well-kept gardens. He recalls being enamored by their beauty, a passion that eventually ignited his entrepreneurial spark.
But this journey is far from a solo expedition. Katana’s business, once a one-man show, now employs six people who contribute to his vision.
