Most people in Kenya and around the globe do not understand a street hawker’s life, a useful person in society.
Hawkers here in Nakuru are now selling items from one door to the other. From sufurias, spoons, knives, flasks, clothes and other commodities.
Nakuru hawkers have become a common but important figure in society.
The hawkers have devised tactics to net their customers, thus earning a living.
Think of a young man or woman, who would spend 1k to buy a few plastic items like basins, then exchange the same in the town’s most popular estates with used clothes that are in good condition.
Oh yea, its happening in Nakuru! You don't need money to buy some household utensils, just don’t give away your kids clothes when they grow up. The hawkers later sell these clothes at a profit.
What differentiates Nakuru hawkers from others in Kenya’s biggest towns such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu Eldoret or Bungoma is language.
Sometimes years ago, in 2011 to be specific, I toured a certain region in Kenyaat a time when it was raining heavily. A hawker came approached saying: Machi… Machi…. Machi….maaaachii nunua na mbao.
At first I couldn’t understand the language, but on seeing the bottle, I knew he actually meant maji (water.) But what was most annoying when I said ‘No’, he replied: Unafikiria ni wewe tu unaweza nunua? Maringo peleka bank! Oh my goodness, am sorry that’s the language with most hawkers.
However, in Nakuru, they will persuade you to buy items even you don’t need.
First, they greet you, considering your age bracket. Bro mambo? - if you are middle aged, or they say. Cucu hujambo ( how are you grand mother)? Leo nimekuletea kamba ya kuni….and this is the moment you just have to laugh, ha ha ha and questions start running behind your medulla oblongata “…who told her that I needed this kamba ya kuni?”
“Hii ni mzuri sana ya kufunga hata ngombe, kubeba maji, mzigo ukisindikisha wageni….na tena ni ndefu sana…Ni mia peke yake, unasemaje”?
With these questions, all the passengers will be paying attention to her. You just have to buy, especially if it is a woman hawker and she says, woiye, nunua watoto wangu wasilale njaa leo, imagine sijauza tangu asubuhi mathe, ni promotie kajob.
Also, Nakuru hawkers carry everything with them. “Niko na kadi za simu pia, sooonda maji, yoghurt! Kiberiti, sindano, socks, Mathy unasemaje, nikuletee ndizi ama apples? Kaka, memory card ama earphones”? This is the language they use in Nakuru.
Now proving how strong this business is, most of these hawkers have a better life than a good number of office employed people, making at least ksh 1,000 daily. Good money huh?
Yah, probably why they say, the owner of Vision Mart supermarket in Nakuru, was one day a hawker…yah a hawker, who is now a role model to many.
If you are outside Nakuru as a hawker, just change your tactics, stop singing that musical tone to draw the attention of the buyers, ringing bells or making strange sounds. Play cool, improve your PR….and you are good to go.
Just remember this ‘Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts; said Winston Churchill and that successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do.
Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better’ according to Jim Rohn