Orphaned at a young age, all Patricia Musangi has known is hard work. She has worked in a farm, collected firewood for a living, worked as a housekeeper, and later as a waitress.
And throughout this time, she saved diligently to fund her studies. Years later, this same instinct to work with her hands led her into engineering, fabrication and construction.
“I grew up in Kitui and life was not easy. I lost my parents at the age of nine, and my elder brother had to step in and help take care of us while doing casual labour. I used to see my brother building things, and we would have food from that work. That is where I got the idea that I could do the same,” says Patricia.
Now 29, Patricia runs three businesses, has completed more than 200 projects, and has trained over 3,500 apprentices. She is also developing Fundi Locator, a digital platform intended to connect artisans with customers and work. Patricia also serves as Head of Digitalisation at the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations.
Her businesses, Joann’s Interior & Exteriors Limited, PEJ Automation Engineers Ltd, and Vector Technical Training Centre, cover construction, fabrication, automation, and technical training. After completing Form Four at the age of 15, Patricia moved to Nairobi and worked as a domestic helper in Dandora. She later took computer courses at a cyber café, then studied information technology and graphic design, obtaining a diploma.
“I felt like I was not using my mind. I wasn't utilising my mind. I wanted a challenge that would make me think. I wanted to solve problems, create things, and understand how things work,” she says. She took a job as a waitress while continuing with her studies. Her shifts ran from around 6pm to 6am, followed by classes during the day.
“In the morning, I would leave work, change into my school uniform, attend classes for four hours, sleep for about two hours, and then return to work at 6 pm,” she says. She had already developed a habit of fixing things herself at home.
“I never used to call an electrician or a plumber. I would fix things myself, even if I had never done it before. If something stopped working, I wanted to understand what was wrong and see if I could fix it,” she says.
Patricia Musangi taking levels on site.
Photo credit: Pool
Patricia says that engineering opened up a career path that she had not previously known existed. “Where I come from, you either became a nurse, a teacher or a driver. There was no one to guide me through the different careers. Nobody told me that I could go into engineering, automation, fabrication or other technical fields,” she says.
In 2018, a friend introduced her to an engineer who worked in a workshop. She then undertook industrial automation training at Proteq Automation through the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme. “It's like robotics. You learn how to make parts of a robot and how to make them move,” she says. The training introduced her to programmable logic controllers, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, 3D CAD/CAM Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and automated machinery. She also trained in fabrication and went on to become a master welder and master craftsman in general fitting, with skills in metalworking, welding, heavy equipment maintenance and plant operation.
By 2019, she had built a complete (CNC) machine, which uses computer-programmed instructions to control machine tools. “The one in my workshop is my own creation. I know how it was made, and I know what is happening inside it,” she says.
She later obtained a Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering, with training in structural analysis, highway pavement design, hydraulics, surveying and concrete technology. She is also a certified CNC professional trainer and certified plant operator.
A major step in setting up her workshop was receiving Sh1 million in support from the KCB Foundation, which she used to make the CNC machine. Since then, she has completed more than 200 projects and created employment for dozens of young people. In 2020, her mentor, Simon Muthike, encouraged her to leave the workshop and seek out clients.
He gave her a laptop and money for transport and told her to approach potential clients. One of her early projects was worth about Sh6 million and required her to produce a sample within a tight deadline.
Modern U-shaped kitchen with sleek handleless cabinets and warm pendant lights.
Photo credit: Pool
“We worked through the night. When we finished, and the client accepted the work, that gave me the confidence to look for more jobs,” she says.
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Patricia travelled across Kenya taking on repair and maintenance jobs. This expanded her client base and income. This was also the year in which she earned her first million. In 2021, she secured a contract to build a house, a maisonette that took six months to complete.
Her work in construction and fabrication has also taken her back to Kitui, where she runs the Kitui Youth Technical Bootcamp. This programme provides hands-on training in welding and fabrication, building and civil construction, plumbing and pipefitting, HVAC systems, and interior and exterior finishes.
Her role with the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations involves digitisation and skills recognition. She is also involved in Recognition of Prior Learning with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and participates in the development, assessment and certification of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training curriculum.
