I've been sharing stories of overcoming challenges in the 'hood and earning a living through honest means in this once-monthly segment, 'Hustle in the 'hood'.
My journey began in the mid-1990s as a casual labourer in Prudential Estate, sweeping streets and taking care of flowers. I reported to Mr. Fritz, an Austrian expat who ran the carpentry section of SOS Technical School in Buruburu.
Prudential Estate was a middle-class neighbourhood with beautiful women, and I was determined to earn some money. Mr. Fritz noticed my hard work and promoted me to a job at SOS, even offering to pay part of my fees for a woodwork course. However, I had other creative dreams to pursue.
Years later, in the late 1990s, I found myself washing church toilets at KAG Church in Bahati with my friend Emmanuel, aka Prince. We worked hard to keep the toilets clean, earning the nickname 'peanut butter' for the number twos and 'strungi' for the number ones. The Bishop was pleased with our work, and it was a blessing in disguise.
Prince is now Governor Hassan Joho's bodyguard, and I'm the one writing this story. My message to young people is that there's no shame in the hustle game. As long as you're earning honest money, you'll be just fine.
Don't look down on any work, but up at your destination. Keep your head up and remember that it's a transitional space where you can learn vital lessons. If you skip this class, you may be forced to repeat it later on, and it may be costlier or catastrophic.
Everyone has different trajectories, 'cook times', and destinies. Do you, homie. The work you're doing may not match your education, but trust the process and the Processor.
