This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
Phyllis Wanja Kimani, a 23-year-old entrepreneur from Kenya, has found an innovative way to boost her income. After five years of working as a tailor, she diversified into maize roasting due to increasing competition from boutiques selling ready-made outfits.
According to Kimani, some school administrators in her location were cutting deals with traders and directing parents to specific shops for branded school uniforms, further reducing her business. This forced her to think beyond tailoring to earn extra income.
Kimani now uses her mornings for tailoring jobs and her evenings for maize roasting, which she does by the roadside. Despite the challenges of balancing two businesses, she has found success in maize roasting, generating up to Sh2,000 in a good day.
However, she faces challenges such as dealing with copycats who have started similar businesses and operating in unpredictable weather conditions. Kimani also struggles with customers who default on payments and county council officials who make her life difficult.
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