James Waweru, popularly called Mfalme Ukweli, announced that he shut down his creative manufacturing firm Ukweli Crafts on 18 March 2025 after operating for 17 years.

The Nairobi‑based workshop, which produced custom T‑shirts, branded merchandise, eco‑friendly gift bags and laser‑engraved gifts, once employed between three and nine young workers, many without formal qualifications.

Waweru said the most rewarding aspect of the venture was providing practical skills to these employees.

Financial strain, rising operating costs and inconsistent demand led to cash‑flow problems, culminating in roughly six months of unpaid rent and an eviction from the workshop in 2021.

After the eviction, Waweru continued production from a verandah in Kahawa West for about two years before deciding to close the business permanently.

He had contemplated shutting down as early as 2020‑2021, but the COVID‑19 pandemic and personal milestones such as marriage and fatherhood delayed the decision.

Now aged 44, Waweru is publicly seeking either salaried employment or a business partnership, describing the transition to job hunting as humbling and noting interviewers often ask about his salary expectations and reasons for closing the firm.

He emphasizes that his family remains a key motivation and hopes his children see setbacks as temporary rather than defining.