With the inflation rate in Kenya today, every job in the city is a treasure and should be respected. As long as you put some food on the table, be it hand to mouth, it is hustle. Various jua kali pay heavily compared to the white collar jobs yet many people may view these jobs as trash. Only the job owners know the secrets behind their job. These jobs are:
Matatu drivers and conductors- road transport form 90% of our daily use as Kenyans for transport. The matatu industry makes millions every year. Considering this, the drivers and conductors pocket a lot of money at the end of the day. In Nairobi, at random the drivers make Sh.3000 per day. This pay is far much better than what a company’s secretary is earning. Although you underrate the conductor, remember he might be earning more than you. Water vendors- with the current water shortage in the city, is has become a source of living for the water vendors. When they pull their carts full of water jerricans, they count profits as they sell water to the users at double cost of what they bought it at. At average, a 20 litre mtungi is sold at Sh.30 to Sh.50 compared to the buying price of ten shillings. This means after several trips the vendors will smile all he closes his business after the day’s hustleEgg vendors- these is another business in Nairobi that has double profits after. With the huge population, food is essential and should be in plenty. The boiled eggs hawkers make money after selling an egg at Sh.20 compared to SH.10 as buying price. The hustle might look tiresome but after several sales of crates, the profit margin is smart enough to outshine a white collar job.Construction workers (mjengo) - with the growing rate of development, everyday there is a construction site which temporarily employed many workers. With the hard work in this, and dirt that is associated with the construction, a mason pockets Sh.800 to Sh.1200 depending on the contractor.
In this case, kazi ni kazi…