Stephen Njoroge’s journey is one of passion, resilience, and creativity shaped by both struggle and determination. Born and raised in Kawaida, Banana in Kiambu County, Stephen discovered his love for art at a young age. After completing Class 8 in 1987, he faced a harsh reality—his mother could not afford to pay for his high school education.
Instead of giving up on his future, Stephen chose a different path. Driven by his passion for art, he sought mentorship from a skilled artist in Githuma who was known for nurturing talent. In 1988, Stephen dedicated a full year to training, learning and perfecting his craft. It was during this time that he developed his unique artistic style, working with his hands to turn simple materials into meaningful pieces of art.
After completing his training, life still demanded survival. Between 1989 and 1992, Stephen took on small casual jobs (vibarua) to sustain himself. He later moved to Marigiti, where he continued doing manual work. Through discipline and determination, he saved enough money to invest in his passion—buying materials and officially starting his art journey.
Stephen specializes in creating artistic portraits using banana fibre, a natural and locally available material. His work reflects not only creativity but also deep cultural roots and environmental awareness. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand, combining patience, skill, and vision.
His materials include glue, soft boards, black cloth, petroleum (used to dilute the glue), varnish, manila papers, brown sugar papers, and banana fibre. With these simple tools, Stephen transforms raw materials into beautiful, expressive artwork that tells stories and captures emotion.
Beyond his own work, Stephen is committed to empowering others. He has trained two individuals and continues to mentor young people who are interested in learning his craft. His dream is to expand his workshop, reach a wider market for his portraits, and create more opportunities for upcoming artists.
Stephen is also a family man, with four children who depend on him. He has passed down his artistic skills to his son, who has since branched into a different form of art—tattooing—showing how creativity continues to grow across generations.
Today, Stephen Njoroge stands as a testament to the power of using one’s hands and mind to create a livelihood. With support, his art can reach greater audiences, his workshop can grow, and his impact can extend to many more young creatives.
His story is not just about art—it is about turning passion into purpose and building a future with one’s own hands.
