THIKA, Kenya—Elizabeth Nyambura, a former beauty therapy lecturer, has turned a personal setback into a thriving business, proving that resilience and determination can overcome even the most daunting challenges. In 2020, Nyambura lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her with no income and mounting rent arrears. Faced with the responsibility of feeding her two children, she took a bold step that would change her life forever.
Armed with only a shaving machine she used on her son, Nyambura began offering door-to-door barber services. “I was disappointed and stressed after losing my job, but I did not have time to feel sorry for myself,” she recalls. “I had two children to feed. I had to do something quickly.”
Braving ridicule and hardship, she built a loyal clientele and, with a Ksh 200,000 loan, opened her own business, Meditouch Therapy Centre, in Jogoo Kimakia, Thika. The center, which offers barbering and massage services, now earns her over Ksh 200,000 a month.
Nyambura’s success has not only secured her financial freedom but has also created job opportunities for other young women. Her employees, Damaris Mumbi and Mercy Muthoni, credit Nyambura with transforming their lives and mentoring them in valuable skills.
Nyambura’s journey is a powerful testament to breaking gender barriers in a male-dominated field. She has inspired countless women to pursue manual jobs as a path to financial independence. Looking ahead, Nyambura’s ultimate goal is to open a training college to empower others with barbering and therapy skills.
From walking the streets with a shaving machine to running a bustling enterprise, Elizabeth Nyambura’s story is a compelling example of what can be achieved through sheer determination and a refusal to give up.