Fredrick Ochieng, architect who hawks building plans on streets

Fredrick Ochieng at his “office” on Kimathi Street in Nairobi, where he hawks house plans. He says he makes an average of Sh 30,000 every month. [PHOTOS: PKEMOI NG’ENOH]

By PKEMOI NG’ENOH

NAIROBI, KENYA: When Fredrick Ochieng assisted a fundi to draw a rough sketch of their home in Kisumu when he was only 15, it never crossed his mind that one day he would repeat the same feat several times to put food on the table.

But this time round coming up with more accurate plans and equipped with a diploma in architecture to boot!

Freddie, as he is known by many, is now 25.

He has cut himself a niche designing and selling house plans along Kimathi Street in Nairobi.

Though his heart had initially pushed him to study Information Technology, a meeting with a fellow architect he shares a house in Langata brought him back to the field.

“I came into the city after a course in architecture to try a hand in IT. But a friend and fellow architect urged me to remain focused and borrow a leaf from him,” says Mr Ochieng’.

The business however only started picking mid last year when the two managed to raise the Sh5,000 annual license fee, from then City Council, to sell from the point. Surprisingly, the plans going for Sh,1000 each have been selling faster than they could have imagined.

According to Freddie, it only takes two to three hours to complete a house plan and certain processes must be followed using different computer software like archi-card.

FULL NAMES AND ID

“The process begins with drawing a rough sketch, partitioning, roofing and decorating walls to achieve a blue print whose standard must be approved to be a well done work of architecture,” he explains.

It is from here that the plan is transferred onto one page and other information like plot number, size, area, full names and ID of the architect are included before going for a print out. He sells it in booklet form.

The whole process, including a print-out, costs the duo Sh700.

“We sell the plans this cheap on the streets because we own a number of equipment, but most of the architects in this town are too costly to approach. Others need up to Sh3,000 for a simple plan,” says Fredie.

NO REST

On a good month, Fred pockets up to 30,000 in profits from the street, but he says he never rests since most of the clients take him to design from the field. 

Selling the plans on the street has made Fred interact with prominent persons including lawyers and business moguls. It is however, he says, challenging since all of them want him around the construction sites to guide the workers.

“I rarely get a chance to rest since most of the customers want me at the site. Sometimes I oblige and sometimes decline. Soon we are opening an office for more clients to find us,” he says.