Around 5pm every day, Janvier Niyonkuru, Phanuel Ndayambaje and Brownie Innocent can be found wandering the streets of Nakuru, armed with a thermos flask and a plastic bucket full of snacks.

This is how they eke out a living, selling coffee and snacks to locals looking for something to eat before heading home.

Their profession was not by choice, but by necessity, after finding themselves in a foreign country with no other means of survival.

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The trio left their native Rwanda to escape poverty and seek greener pastures in Kenya.

Things did not turn out as they expected, however, and they had to resort to any manual labour that did not require an education.
In Nakuru, they live in the Bondeni, Shabaab and Manyani slums.

They decided to start selling coffee and snacks to survive the harsh economic conditions.

Since arriving in Kenya from Kisenyi in Rwanda a year ago, this is how they have been making a living selling coffee and snacks in Nakuru town.

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They were introduced to the business by their host, who facilitated their move to Kenya.

They sell a cup of coffee for Sh10 and a snack for Sh10. Their working hours are between 5pm and 10pm.

They all agree that the job helps them pay their rent and buy food. However, they are forced to pool their resources and live in groups.

"The rent for a single room is Sh3,000 and one person cannot pay it alone, so we have to come together and contribute monthly," says Mr Niyonkuru.

This, he says, is the reason why they live in a slum where life is a bit more affordable for them.

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According to Niyonkuru, it is easier to run such a business in Kenya because there are no strict regulations like in Rwanda.

Secondly, Kenyans have embraced the business and they do not ask questions.

"Kenyans have no problem consuming the drink from the bottle as long as you assure them that it is well prepared," says Mr Niyonkuru.

Being a foreigner comes with its own downside, says Mr Niyonkuru, as they are usually targeted by people.They are also sometimes harassed by the police and County askaris.

Some of the other businesses commonly run by Rwandans include selling boiled eggs, hairdressing and second-hand clothes.

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From Rwanda to Nakuru: How these foreigners are taking over the hawking business

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Joseph Openda