This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
James Ndirangu, a 25-year-old shoe hawker, has been in the business for a year. He previously worked as a sales agent, where he learned the art of trade. However, he switched to self-employment due to various reasons, including demoralizing commission payments and the inability to make ends meet.
As a self-employed individual, Ndirangu faces numerous challenges. He often incurs bad debts when customers pay partially and promise to settle the balance later, only to default. He also experiences harassment from county council officials and has to walk long distances under different weather conditions to find customers.
According to Ndirangu, the time of the month affects his sales, with many people having no disposable income, especially during the last two weeks of the month. Competition is also a significant challenge he faces in his daily life.
Despite these challenges, Ndirangu is content with the sales he makes. On a good day, he earns around Sh500, while on a bad day, he gets as little as Sh300.
