Thika: At just 19, Victor Muthambure from Majengo estate in Thika is proving that art is not just a pastime but a pathway to both self-reliance and a promising future. Victor, a first-year student at Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts in Nairobi, has turned his natural talent into a source of income that helps him cover personal expenses and even supplement his school fees.
According to Kenya News Agency, Victor traces his journey back to class five, when he admired a classmate who sketched cartoons. Inspired, he began replicating characters from television, gradually honing his craft. His biggest cheerleader was his mother, who not only encouraged his budding passion but also bought him pencils and watercolors that became the foundation of his artistic growth. 'When my mother saw how good my cartoons were, she supported me with the materials I needed. That gave me confidence to pursue art seriously,' Victor recalls.
Balancing college studies with a growing art career, Victor follows a strict routine. He dedicates an hour and a half each morning to academics, followed by an equal amount of time to drawing, and repeats the same in the evening after classes. Weekends and holidays are dedicated to commissioned pieces and roadside sales of his paintings, which attract passersby and clients alike.
Nature and wildlife inspire his work. From rivers, forests, and mountains to elephants, lions, and portraits of customers, Victor seeks to capture Kenya's beauty and culture on canvas. Depending on complexity, his paintings take between a day and three to complete. His efforts are paying off, literally. He earns about Sh25,000 a month, enough for pocket money and at times to offset tuition shortfalls. 'The money I earn is enough to sustain me in school and sometimes even help with fees,' he says with pride.
Yet, like many creatives, Victor faces hurdles. Rising costs of materials such as canvases, frames, and paints often stall his work. Worse still, some clients fail to pay, leaving him with financial losses. Other times, roadside displays also come with risks like dust and sudden rains occasionally damaging his pieces. Despite these setbacks, he remains determined. 'If we can get spaces where youth like me can showcase their talents, that would help us earn even more and get exposure,' he says.
Victor's aspirations go beyond personal gain. He dreams of opening an art gallery to showcase his paintings locally and internationally, while also providing a platform for other young talents. His vision mirrors the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) direction, with its emphasis on nurturing creativity, innovation, and practical skills from an early age. Education stakeholders argue that if supported well, the CBC system could produce more young people like Victor, who can turn passion into enterprise.
In a country where unemployment remains high, the arts present a viable livelihood pathway. For Victor, the message is clear: talent can feed, educate, and build futures if given the right environment. His customers, including long-time buyer Evelyn Wamuyu, testify to the value of his work. 'When I look at his paintings, I see more than colours. I feel the story and emotion behind every brushstroke,' she says. Victor's story is one of resilience, creativity, and foresight, a reminder that Kenya's youth, with the right encouragement and structures, can turn talent into triumph.