From Gospel singer to dreadlock stylist.

Eric Njau Omondi always had a dream of becoming a beauty consultant and to achieve it, he had to start small.

He engaged in casual jobs like babysitting, harvesting maize on people’s farm and even road construction work.

Right from a tender age, Omondi, who is now aged 32, used to visit peoples’ home looking for willing clients who would let him plait their hair.

Today Mr Omondi is an influential dreadlocks hairdresser in Meru Town.

Most salons doing dreadlocks in the town were formed by him.

He was born in Nyeri County and brought up in Meru but his original home is in Siaya County.

Erico, as he is popularly known by his clients, had difficult times starting the business after being a gospel musician.

“I was a gospel musician and I used to have clients around the country. I would move from school to school to sell my music CDs to teachers and even students.

"My business fell after I was attacked by robbers who took everything from me and left me with nothing,” narrated Mr Omondi who recalls the events of that day with bitterness.