Monica Muteti’s dream of becoming a renowned chef remained undeterred by her disability; she was born with hearing and listening impairments.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Monica rose above adversity to become one of the top chefs at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel.
Monica’s parents, Ann and Pascal Muteti, discovered her hearing impairment at a young age. They were initially distressed by the realization that their eldest child would grow up with a disability.
“We noticed delays when she was around two to three years old. At the time, she could only utter a few words, and most people attributed this to her being the firstborn child without other children around,” they recalled. “We were surprised and unsure of how to handle the situation, as there was no family history of deafness.”
Throughout her academic career, Monica endured harsh criticism and hurtful comments from others. She began her formal education at Machakos School for the Deaf before moving on to Mumias High School, where she completed her KCSE certificate.
Despite her parents’ preference for her to pursue tailoring, Monica chose to study Catering and Accommodation at Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf in Nairobi County.
Struggling to find work after school, Monica decided to start her own bakery, but the venture did not succeed as she had hoped. “Since it was hard to get a job after school, I started my own bakery shop, which did not do well. However, with support from my family, I received training at Cheshire Disability Services Kenya, which improved my skills,” she explained.
Monica’s determination led her to an internship at Radisson Blu in Nairobi County. Her dedication did not go unnoticed, as her then-boss, Chef Isaiah Oduor, recognized her passion and commitment.
Monica’s hard work eventually paid off when Chef Oduor recommended her for a position at Villa Rosa Kempinski.
“The good thing I noticed was her punctuality. She would be the first to arrive and would not leave unless I told her,” said her father, Pascal.
