A growing number of women are breaking barriers and creating
innovative concepts.
Twenty-three-year-old Saraphina Wambui is one of them. From
a young age, Wambui had always dreamt of being a matatu driver. But along the
way, her passion evolved and she developed an interest in graphic design.
With a mean grade of C+ from St Teresa’s Girls Secondary
School, Wambui, the only woman matatu graphics designer in Nairobi, has worked
on 15 vehicles plying the Mathare, Kasarani and Embakasi routes.
She is pursuing a degree in graphic design at the Technical
University of Kenya. During the unveiling of a pink matatu at the National
Museums of Kenya in Nairobi yesterday, Wambui said she chose to pursue the
rigorous, but rewarding, journey of entrepreneurship as a way to challenge
gender norms and inspire women.
She has faced many struggles and experienced triumphs along
the way.
Wambui said men have discriminated against her, but such
challenges only motivate her to work harder.
“As An Industry That Is
Perceived To Be Male Dominated, Some Men Have Harassed Me A Couple Of Times
Trying To Bring Me Down And Frustrate My Work And The Efforts I Bring Into My
Job. Others Have Sidelined Me, But I Kept On Pushing Because This Is A Talent.
It Is Something That I Love Doing,” She Said.
Wambui has designed for five years. She started in Kayole
and currently works in Industrial Area. She works with a team of three
supportive men.
Wambui charges Sh100,000 to design and Sh400,000 to include
rims, interior and exterior design.
She said women are afraid of joining the industry and many
become “impatient and are easily discouraged”.
The pink matatu that was
displayed at the museum courtyard had images of the late Prof Wangari Maathai
and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta with words including ‘phenomenal woman’ and
‘bold’.
