MADE IN KENYA: Young Kibra entrepreneur upcycling old car tyres into high-end shoes

Akala 21 fuses pure leather and the upcycled old car tyres to make the final product. The leather is obtained from local tanneries, and George has contracted casuals who peel the car tyres to get the desired material. 

"Akala 21 simply means Akalas for the 21st century. Akala in the Kenyan context is any shoe that has been made from upcycled tyre, and we just wanted to give it an update/facelift in terms of its utility and aesthetic to suit the 21st century clientele," Otieno says.

When the products are ready, George sells them online mostly, particularly targeting fashion enthusiasts and environmentalists.

Akala 21 products have gained popularity due to their uniqueness, and recently George was feted for his role in upcycling old car tyres. 

"The business has been growing progressively, we even got a chance to showcase our products in Ethiopia a week ago, to which we even won an award under the upcycled footwear collection, we were the best in Africa. So it generally shows that our products have been widely accepted and people really love whatever we are doing," he added.

George currently makes up to 1500 units per month, but his long term plan is to start making shoes customised for a client’s foot type and shape.