- Not only has joblessness birthed entreprise, but has also forced women to take roles which were traditionally viewed as reserved for men
- Many young people live in poverty even when they could take opportunities that could earn them money
Image: KNA
The acute shortage of job opportunities for young people in Kenya has pushed hundreds of young people into self-employment ventures.
It is also estimated that over 1 million young people enter the labour market annually devoid of any skills, either having dropped out of school or not gone through any tertiary institution.
Statistics by the Federation of Kenya Employers shows the overall unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 12.7 percent
Not only has joblessness birthed entreprise, but has also forced women to take roles which were traditionally viewed as reserved for men.
Lydia Muriithi falls into this category.
Muriithi ekes a living as a cobbler in King’ong’o, after quitting her job in the hospitality sector.
“I left my previous job in order to cater for my child. The job I was doing was too demanding as we worked in shifts and I was mainly placed in night shifts. Leaving my child at a friend’s house or with relatives was also an embarrassment since I didn’t want him to be a bother,” explains Muriithi.
Image: KNA
Before trying her hand at self-employment, she weighed the risks and possible hits.
After evaluating available business opportunities, she settled on shoe repair as it presented the least challenges. It also required little capital and business space.
Initially, things were a bit challenging.
“A customer would walk into my establishment and from the facial expression, you’d see the surprise in their eyes seeing that the cobbler was actually a lady. Some would even ask me where the cobbler is,” she says.
Almost eight years later, Muriithi singles out client satisfaction as the difference between staying in business and closing down.
The cobbler has had dozens of clients commend her for work well done. Some were persons she had never dreamt of meeting in her lifetime.
It is through such clients that she has managed to keep her business growing by the day.
“This makes me proud of my job and that is why I keep coming to my workshop. The satisfaction of my customers brings me joy and that is why I love my job.”
On average, the Giakanja resident mends a minimum of 20 pairs of shoes daily, which enables her to take care of her three children.
Muriithi appealed to the youth not to be selective with jobs, but to go for what gives returns at the end of the day.
Many young people live in poverty even when they could take opportunities that could earn them money.
“I wish to urge the youth to try and venture into all kinds of jobs. It goes a long way once you have mastered the ropes of the job,” she says.
“And for ladies who wish to venture into male dominated occupations, let them know this will demand courage and resilience. The good news is that those who dare to scale such heights end up being successful.”
Another woman working in a male-dominated industry is Margaret Gitonga.
We met Gitonga at her workplace, swabbing a car she had just finished washing.
She works at a carwash located within the Central Region Commissioner's office headquarters. The complex also hosts the bulk of the county and national government offices.
On a normal working day, Gitonga cleans an average of 20 cars and receives 40 per cent commission from her employer.
“Washing a car depends on the preference of the owner. For a general body wash, we charge Sh200 for saloon cars, Sh600 for canter trucks and Sh1000 for large trucks. We also wash the inner parts of the vehicle including the engine which is charged at Sh200 also,” she says.
Gitonga started working at the carwash in 2017, but notes it comes with its fair share of challenges because the field is dominated by men.
“Occasionally, when first time customers bring their vehicles, they often doubt my ability to do a perfect job including whether their cars will not be damaged. Others tend to stand by and watch as I work. Notwithstanding such challenges, over the seven years I have been in the industry, I have learnt how to handle all my customers.”
Her advice to the youth is to take any available opportunity they can earn from and not look down on menial jobs.
“If I were selective while I was looking for employment, I wouldn’t be working here. Kazi ni kazi, muhimu ni mapato (Any type of work is worth it as long as there is pay),” she concludes.
When we met Sarah Wanjiku, she was in her customary blue working overalls, black sports shoes and a black cap, ready to undertake her routine duties.
The 20-year-old works at a garage located near the Batian hotel.
Born in Nyeri in a family of five children, Wanjiku attended Temple Road primary school before joining Riamukurwe secondary, where she sat KCSE in 2019.
It was during her childhood days that she developed a liking to the automotive industry, which shaped her career path.
“Immediately after I had completed my high school studies in 2019, I embarked on training as a mechanic specialising in electrical wiring. It has however taken me two years to gain the required skills,” she narrates.
Unlike other women who were often shy to take such odd jobs due to societal prejudice, Wanjiku says she was lucky since her family stood by her, urging her to follow her heart.
Among those who have cheered her most is her mother.
“I no longer depend on my family since I started this job. I have also been able to rent my own house and cater for my personal needs. Above all, I am happy since most of the customers appreciate my work despite the fact that I am a woman,” she says.
One of the major challenges she faces is any damage caused in the process of repairing a customer’s vehicle.
“Despite being an expert in this career, we still find ourselves making some mistakes. That’s why it’s critical to keep on learning and unlearning for you to keep improving,” she adds.
Wanjiku encouraged youth, especially young ladies, to venture into the same field or any other that was previously a preserve of men.
She says she believes in herself and is always prepared for what may come her way.
Martin Ngari, who is Wanjiku’s coworker, describes her as a hardworking woman who sometimes worked better than some of the male colleagues.
Ngari praised her professionalism and high sense of discipline at work, adding that in this career, one needs to be confident.
Simon Ndung’u, her boss, terms her a dependable worker.
“She is committed to her work and has so far yielded good results. I never get complaints from customers and whenever I am not around, she handles everything well. Everyone can do this job irrespective of gender,” Ndung’u said.
Image: KNA