Everyday Kenyans and why we need to think different....

Its 4:45 am in the morning in the outskirts of Athi River town and Mwikali, a single mother of one is lucky to find only 3 fellow tenants ahead of her in the queue outside the only bathroom serving 85 single roomed households. “If you do not wake up this early, you might be forced to go to work without a bath because the queue is sometimes as long as 50 people” she informed us.

Mwikali is 28 years old and works at the Athi River Export Processing Zone (EPZ) where she earns Kes 7,500 per month and is paid fortnighly in arrears. "I am forced to walk 8 kilometres to and from work everyday because i cannot afford the matatu fare” she said. She further informed us that she pays Kes 2,000 as rent and sends Kes 2,000 to her mother who is helping her raise her four year old daughter. She remains with Kes 3,500 per month for her personal use every month.

Mwikali never finished high school due to lack of school fees and has been working as a casual labourer for a few years. "Life has not been kind to me and my family, but I pray to God that our lives change for the best. Mwikali, has absolutely no saving and claims that she sometimes goes without food for a day or two every month.

40 kilometres north of Athi River in Nairobi, Wafula* a 31 year old living in Kawangware has also woken up and preparing for the day ahead. While he doesn’t have the problem of queuing for a bath, he is bracing himself for a 7 kilometre walk to work in the Industrial area. His wife and kids are still asleep at this hour of the day but he has already had his breakfast of 'sturungi' and 2 slices of bread.

Wafula works as a panel beater for a car body shop where he is expected to start work by 7:30 am hence his very early morning. "I earn a basic salary of Kes 10,000 but my boss sometimes adds us Kes 1-2000 if we work diligently and meet our customers’ expectations" he said. He further informed us that he is forced to walk to and from work because of the high costs of transportation, a whopping 84 kilometres per week.

His income is supplemented by his wife's 'kibarua' work in the affluent Lavington area, where she earns a wage of least 200-300 per day if she is lucky to get a 'kibarua. She mainly tends to household chores and gets at least 3 kibarua's per week. Wafula and his family's main meal is normally Ugali and sukuma wiki at around 8pm. "This is the time when I get to see my children and talk to my wife, such is life" he said.

These kinds of stories are not unique to Mwikali and Wafula but can be found in each and every part of Kenya. These are the everyday stories of Kenyans struggling to make ends meet and with no future to look forward to.The average life expectancy in Kenya is 45 years but is it a wonder when every day Kenyans go through life just like Mwikali and Wafula? 

CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU AND I. ITS TIME TO START THINKING DIFFERENTLY.