These men were apprentice carpenters. The photographs were taken by Charles Bungey, a British cabinet maker who spent many years in Kenya working as a technical instructor.
Makongoro wa Changoro and Juma Wasila are shown with a plan chest they produced. Their colleague made this cabinet for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.
Many people considered these men fortunate to be able to learn a trade. But they were largely trained to make goods for a British market, rather than items to bring increased comfort to their own communities.
BECC 2002/200/1/1/2/117
BECC 2002/200/1/1/1/13