Veronica Macharia, a 33-year-old resident of Karagita, Naivasha, has gained recognition for her unconventional approach to earning a living.

Over the past four years, she has been engaged in the business of selling plastic household items to local residents, utilizing a traditional cart commonly known as 'Mkokoteni.'

Ms. Macharia embarked on this entrepreneurial journey in response to the challenges faced by her previous business of selling second-hand shoes, which was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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"Before venturing into this business, I used to sell second-hand shoes at Gikomba, but the Covid-19 pandemic had a severe impact on that trade. That's when I decided to transition into selling plastic household items," she shares.

Initially, Ms. Macharia set up makeshift stalls to display her items. However, she soon encountered issues with the quality of her products deteriorating due to exposure to the sun.

Veronica Macharia, has been selling plastic household items using the mkokoteni for four years.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

To address this challenge, she made the decision to invest in the creation of her mobile cart, the 'Mkokoteni' to sell the items.

"The harsh sun was diminishing the quality of the items, which discouraged customers from buying. That's when I had the cart made and started selling my items while moving around, a change that significantly boosted my profits," Ms. Macharia reveals.

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Ms. Macharia faced initial scepticism, as people often associated such carts with men. However, she remained undeterred in pursuing her chosen path.

Her workday typically begins at 8:00 am and ends at 8:00 pm as she gets to sell the items to the surrounding neighbourhood.

She aspires to expand her business by eventually establishing a large shop for wholesale distribution of plastic household items as she continues her journey of exemplifying determination, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit in the face of challenges.

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As she concludes sharing, she encourages women not to just sit and complain about the lack of job opportunities but rather show up even in the male dominated sectors.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

What a man can do...Why Veronica sells her wares from a cart in Naivasha town

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Mercy Kihugu