Gladys Njoki Maina graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in 2017, harboring high hopes for a smooth transition into the labor market. Armed with a degree in financial engineering, she was eager to apply the skills she had honed during her four years at university.
However, an unexpected turn of events would soon push her toward entrepreneurship. Maina secured a job with a monthly salary of Ksh 16,000, but it was insufficient to sustain her in Nairobi. To make ends meet, she lived with friends. Just three months into her new job, Maina was unexpectedly fired, a development that dramatically altered her path. According to Maina, the CEO cited her overwhelming dedication as a source of concern for the organization.
“My boss thought I was so passionate and I had too much zeal, and since we can’t have two bosses in the same company, they let me go,” she explained in an interview with KTN.
Left with only Ksh 5,000 after losing her job, Maina was perplexed and uncertain about her future. She decided to move back to her family’s home in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. There, she pursued her passion for hair and beauty products as a hobby, intending to use her remaining money to purchase the necessary materials.
Maina founded GeenyLove, and as demand for her products grew, she obtained a Ksh 80,000 loan from her mother to expand the business. “I tested on my friends who became repeat customers. It reached a point where I conducted in-depth research and did quality control before increasing the product,” Maina added.
