Cartoon Comedian, known as the Queen of Comedy, embarked on an unconventional journey after discontinuing her formal education. During a candid conversation on Oga Obinna’s popular YouTube show, she revealed how she found herself hawking omena, a small dried fish, as a way to cope with the frustrations of dropping out of school and having an abundance of free time.
At the time, Cartoon was just in the second year of her secondary education when she made the pivotal decision to become a street vendor. In a revealing interview, she shared that her educational journey had been marred by numerous interruptions due to her mother’s inability to consistently afford school fees.
Cartoon’s life took another unexpected turn when her parents separated while she was in Class 8. Her mother assumed responsibility for her upbringing, which had a profound impact on her. Reflecting on this period, Cartoon said, “That separation affected me deeply. I had a strong connection with my dad. Yes, I loved my mom, but I was very attached to my dad.”
Her mother initially enrolled her in a prestigious high school in Karen, but she had to leave due to financial constraints. Subsequently, she transferred to a school in Dagoretti, where she experienced a significantly different way of life. She reminisced about the stark contrast, saying, “I used to take hot showers in Karen and enjoyed good meals, but in Kiambu, we were sharing bathrooms.”
The challenging living conditions, combined with the pressures of school fees and an unappealing academic environment, eventually led to Cartoon’s decision to drop out during her second year of high school. She recalled the difficulties, saying, “People were struggling for food, we were cramped in bathrooms, and girls were even using them as restrooms.”
Cartoon’s disconnect with her education deepened, and she turned to selling omena as an alternative. She credited her cousin Alice for introducing her to this opportunity, as Alice would often bring omena when Cartoon was at home due to her frequent school absences. Inspired by the potential of this venture and armed with determination, Cartoon began confidently hawking omena in her neighborhood.
She realized that by waking up early, she could sell a basin of omena to local vendors for Ksh 1000. She even extended her reach to restaurants owned by members of the Kikuyu community, where she would prepare meals for them. Her hard work paid off, and on a good day, she could earn up to Ksh 2000 by covering extensive distances while selling omena.
Cartoon took immense pride in her newfound independence and ability to provide for her family. She would return home in the evenings with money in her bag and would gleefully contribute to purchasing groceries. Her mother respected her for her efforts, and Cartoon could even send her mother money.
“I became a confident and independent young woman,” she remarked with laughter as she recalled her past.
However, her journey as an omena seller faced a setback when her supplier stopped sending her supplies, as the supplier had relocated to a rural area. Faced with this challenge, Cartoon made the bold decision to transition to a new endeavor.
