This is how my shoe business is polishing my life

Growing up in Limuru, Ms Eunice Waithera wanted to become an engineer. However her dream was dramatically cut short when her father passed away while she was in Form Two.

Her mother could not raise her school fees and she ended up on the streets to look for a job.

She worked as a housemaid for five years in Nairobi before being employed as a waitress at a hotel in Nakuru. She did not find the job satisfying and soon she quit.

She landed another job of polishing shoes in Nakuru on Kanu Street. Although this trade is usually associated with men, she did not feel the odd one out.

“I realised I was making more money for my employer than he did on his own. I had developed a loyal clientele as I had gained good skills in cleaning Safari boots,” she said adding that she yearned to go on her own.

Four months down the road, with Sh5,000 in savings she was ready to start her own business. She bought a seat for her clients that cost her Sh2,000 and used the rest to purchase brushes and a variety of shoe polish.

Although she is based in Nakuru, her customers come from Narok, Nairobi and Naivasha.

“I get all the satisfaction in serving my clients. And from this work, I get everything I need, including paying school fees for my child,” says Ms Waithera.

Women’s domain

She has encountered challenges, especially relating to gender.

“Most of my clients are men and some of them don’t believe in me,” she says.

Some of her clients tell her to look for a better job saying what she is doing is not women’s domain. However, Ms Waithera is staying put saying she loves what she is doing.

To stay ahead of competition, she has had to be innovative. “The special product I use for polishing the Safari boots I make it on my own by mixing a number of products,” she says.

She makes between Sh30,000 and 40,000 profit in a month.

Ms Waithera says despite the numerous challenges she faces, she will not leave the job any time soon.
Her dream now is to start a company that will cater for the growing number of clients.

She urges women not to be picky when choosing jobs adding that some women look down upon what she is doing because it is tedious and dirty.
She says life is about making sacrifices and sometimes it involves doing what many considers dirty jobs.

Ms Waithera says some women approach her for training but they give up along the way as the job requires a lot of sacrifice.
“Some of my clients are people who work in slaughterhouses while others work in construction site and their shoes get very dirty. It requires a lot of cleaning,” she adds.

She says her job has enabled her to attain financial freedom. “I have also made savings and implemented major projects as well as support my extended family,” she says.