Day with a cobbler
Fredrick Katisha, a cobbler in Eldoret town of Uasin Gishu County puts on his shoes at 5:30am,on April 11, 2024.
Text and Photos By Jared Nyataya
Fredrick Katisha is a 44-year-old man that has worked as a cobbler for 23 years in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County. In order to make a decent living, he gets up at 5.30am, gets ready for the day, gathers his tools of trade and walks six kilometres to work from his rental room.
He does not have the luxury of using public transport because he must provide for a family of six that live in his rural home.
I spent a day with him and documented what his typical day looks like.
Fredrick Katisha closes the door to his rental room around 5:30 a.m. and walks approximately 6 kilometers to work.
Fredrick Katisha en route to work outside the Kenya National Library Services on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha crossess a rail line en route to work outside the Kenya National Library Services on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha arrive in Eldoret town on April 11, 2024, as he headed to his workplace near the Kenya National Library Services.
Fredrick Katisha collects his tools from a stall after walking 6 kilometers from his rental room to his workplace near the Kenya National Library Services to earn a living on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha sets up his tools for the day under a tree at his workplace near the Kenya National Library Services to earn a living on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha begins mending a client's shoe under a tree outside the Kenya National Library Services to make a living on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha polishes a client's shoe outside the Kenya National Library Services under a tree.
Fredrick Katisha dresses lightly to cope with the scorching sun outside the Kenya National Library while serving his clients on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha haves breakfast while awaiting clients outside the Kenya National Library on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha polishes a client's shoe outside the Kenya National Library Services under a tree.
Fredrick Katisha begins mending a client's shoe under a tree outside the Kenya National Library Services to make a living on April 11, 2024.
And when clients take long to come by, Fredrick Katisha catches up with what is on the social media, at his workplace outside the Kenya National Library Services
Fredrick Katisha sharpens his cobbler’s needle, at his work place outside Kenya National Library Services on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha pins his cobbler's needles to an improvised holder at dusk outside the Kenya National Library Services.
Fredrick Katisha returns his tools to a stall at dusk outside the Kenya National Library Services, where he earns a living, before heading home on April 11, 2024.
Fredrick Katisha is returning home at dusk on April 11, 2024, after spending the day repairing clients' shoes outside the Kenya National Library Services, where he makes a living.
Fredrick Katisha arrive at the gate after walking from his job at the Kenya National Library Services on April 11, 2024.
