Meet Benedict Oduor- Nairobi Engineer Reaping Big From Designing and Making Dollhouses

At the heart of Nairobi Kenya is one Benedict Oduor Onginjo, a 31-year-old engineer who deals with fabrications and Air Conditioning (AC) installations in modern houses.

However, ever since he was a young boy, Ongijo who hails from Siaya County has had a passion to design and make dollhouses for house plans and decorations. The models mimic real houses, with a balcony, compound, roofing, and front porch.

“When I was youn, I used to make beautiful products such as houses, cars and many other things which people greatly admired. This is what encouraged me to keep the dream alive” Onginjo informed City Biz.

In January this year, (2025), Onginjo officially began making miniature dollhouses for commercial purposes during his part time. For him, this was a way of keeping his passion and dream alive.

“After work, I set a side some time to start making these dollhouses and display them near the place I live. People really cherished the work and this is what kept me motivated all along” Onginjo revealed to the reporter.

He says that his main customers are those who need the dollhouses as part of their house decorations. There are also architects and engineers who need the dollhouses as samples or plans to use as guides to their projects.

Prices for the miniature dollhouses vary, ranging from sh.5000 to sh 10000 depending on the design type and the kind of materials used to make the dollhouses.

Onginjo reaches customers through various social media platforms including Facebook, Whatsapp, Tiktok and Instagram. All these platforms run under his name Benedict Ongijo.

At times, he also moves around Nairobi CBD and recreational parks to showcase his work. Admirers may give out some handouts to appreciate his work while others may choose to purchase the dollhouses.

Generally, Onginjo says that there have been positive reactions from fans and the public concerning his craft and that this is what actually what keeps him going.

“I feel good when people including childre look at my work, admire, and tell me congratulations, nice skills, keep on you will get there”.

The interesting bit about Onginjo’s craft is that he did not learn the skills anywhere, it’s a purely an inborn talent.

“For me, I have not gone to any school to learn this thing, I only found myself playing with boxes, toys and other waste materials and turning them into beautiful models”

He also gets more experience and skills his work from the sites which he visits to install the AC devices. With time, he has been able to improve on his craft. Besides, he also uses digital technology including Youtube and other online spaces to perfect his work.

When City Biz visited him at his workshop in Huruma, he was working on his craft with great mastery, each dollhouse appearing as a complete architectural house project with indoor partitions, roofing, ceiling, tile works, and even paintings. Besides, there is gardening of the house as well as the lights that adds aesthetics to the project.

For now, Onginjo is planning to expand his business by making more designs to reach more people. However, he is curtailed by financial constraints that limits his growth in this business.

“I am hoping to expand my business to new level and even employ more people to it” he said adding that I am currently seeking well-wishers to partner with me in this business so that I can achieve this vison”

Presently, Onginjo uses his own finances from his engineering job to work on this project, a sacrifice which he believes will bear fruits in the near future.