This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
At just 23 years old, Jane Muthoni has already experienced a wide range of careers, from working as a house help to running her own business. Her journey began when she quit her job as a house help after a few months due to low pay and a heavy workload.
She then moved on to working as a casual laborer at construction sites, where she found a more sustainable income stream. However, she faced challenges from her male colleagues, who doubted her ability to do construction work as well as they could.
After a year of working in construction, Muthoni decided to take the leap and become self-employed. She now runs three hustles: selling charcoal, watermelons, and running a salon. Her day begins early, with a trip to sell charcoal to early risers, followed by a visit to purchase watermelons and hawk sliced pieces until afternoon.
Her salon business, which is just three months old, is still in the process of equipping. Despite not breaking even in any of her hustles, Muthoni is grateful for the stable income they provide. However, she faces stiff competition from better-equipped salon businesses.
On a good day, her combined businesses can generate an income of Sh2,000.
