Kate Kavemba is a second year student pursuing Bachelor of Arts and Design and runs a mobile beauty parlour for pedicures and manicures to sustain her stay at the university.
She says she learnt the skill back home from her aunt’s salon at a tender age and the continuous assistance she offered her aunt has helped her perfect her skills.
The second born of a family of six says her parents cannot comfortably pay her fees leave alone handling her tuition money she thus opted to venture into the business to bridge the gap.
She says she is lucky since most of the students do not have time to go to the salon for merely handling their nails where they opt for her flexible services where she offers from room to room.
“I have the advantage of little competition since saloons are outside the school compound where most students find it a problem to go seek for these services. This allows me to make between Sh400-600 daily although it varies with weekends paying the most,” says Kavemba.
She charges between Sh70-80 for a single manicure or pedicure.
“I, however, face one big challenge, balancing my class work and the business. Some of my customers may require my services while I am in class which is a loss for me for they seek salon services. Dealing with students is also challenging as some want the services for credit which they sometimes fail to pay which is a loss to me for I have to also meet the expenses of buying the products I use,” she says.
Students however like her personality which is a plus for her business.
“Kate is a humble jovial student where I find it easy to interact with her. Her services are cheap compared to the saloons and flexible for she can come do my nails in my room at my comfort that is why I opt for her services,” says Terry Mwangi.
Kate adds that the university male students are also part of her customers and are following and finds it even easier to deal with them than the female students.