Wairimu Wachira on duty
By MKT Reporter
Wairimu Wachira, a 28-year-old carpenter from Gilgil town, Nakuru County, has defied gender stereotypes in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Growing up in Lando slums, Wairimu faced rejection and resistance from mentors in the pastry and tailoring industries before developing an interest in woodwork.
However, her perseverance paid off when she discovered the KCB Foundation 2jiajiri scholarship programme in 2022, which equips unemployed youth with technical skills to grow micro-enterprises.
Wairimu won a three-month scholarship to study carpentry at Comboni Polytechnic in Gilgil, where she volunteered in various workshops for two years to gain experience before starting to earn from her craft.
With the moral support of her mother and two brothers, she now works at a furniture workshop in Gilgil, earning over Sh5,000 per week, and is currently working on a contract that earns her more than Sh100,000 weekly.
Her colleagues praise her work, saying she has excellent skills.
Wairimu’s motivation is drawn from the desire to give the best to her customers and earn enough to give herself a good life, as well as from her husband, who has been very supportive of what she is doing. She wishes to rise through her career and be able to encourage other young women to get into so-called male-dominated careers.
However, being a female carpenter comes with unique challenges, such as being cautious when visiting male customers’ homes for fittings and being aware of potential risks and inappropriate behaviour.
Wairimu remains focused on her goals and dreams of owning a large workshop and employing creative, hardworking female carpenters, making items sought after not just in the country but also internationally.
She advises young women interested in carpentry not to give up, emphasising that with time, they will master the necessary skills that will make them stand out.
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