A jobless graduate in Nyamira who refused to sit around or wait for employment has established a successful business after a futile search for a formal job, kickstarting with only five loaves.
He has overcome the common persuasion that to survive, you must gain formal employment after graduation.
Born in 1975, Dickson Nyanyuki wasted no time after graduating with a Bachelor of Education (B.ed) in Mathematics and Economics.
He had hoped to be absorbed into teaching immediately, but that was not to be as the government then had frozen all direct entries into the teaching profession.
“Having no other option but with hopes that my day for employment will come, I raised 2000 shillings and started selling vegetables in Nakuru town,” he said.
After two years of grocery business, he quit to join Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) in Nyamira County as a clerk in 2002.
It was here that he realized that advanced education elevated one’s chances of employment, and therefore enrolled for a Masters degree in International Development at the University of East Africa Baraton.
After that he was able to get a good job in Mozambique where he worked with a manufacturing firm as a Human Resource Manager for two years.
He came back to Kenya and relocated from his father’s farm at Motagara village in West Mugirango to his own home in Bogusero Ward in Kitutu Chache South.
“I came back to my home and consulted with my wife who is a health service provider, then we consolidated the family income to start a Back to Eden Bakery,” he said.
He started by baking 5 loaves of bread on a local stove and took them to the market as the wife remained home. He was able to make about Ksh20,000 a month.
In 2022, the Nyanyuki’s moved their business to Nyamira town Industrial Park, which has since expanded to employ 17 full time workers as they are also involved in fruit juice making.
Looking back to the social obstacles he has undergone to reach where he is, Nyanyuki asks youth to diversify their skills to enable them survive in the ever competitive world of work.
By Enock Okong’o
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