Risper Kerubo graduated from Kenyatta University with First Class honors in Health Services Management. Like many top-performing students, she expected job offers to follow soon after.
But that didn’t happen.
Despite her impressive academic record, Risper found herself jobless for months. The healthcare job market wasn’t as welcoming as she had hoped. Faced with rising bills and no income, she knew she had to think differently.
That’s when she got inspired by fellow Kisii natives making a living in Nairobi’s markets. They sold bananas and avocados brought in from the village—and business was booming.
“I saw how people from my community were doing well selling fruits. I decided to try it too,” she told Business Daily in an earlier interview.
In 2016, after researching where to buy fruits directly from farmers at good prices, she started her own fruit-selling business in Imara Daima.
It wasn’t an easy decision. After years of studying, starting a roadside fruit stall felt like a step backward. But Risper pushed forward.
Every morning at 4 am, she heads to Wakulima Market to get the best bananas and avocados. She carefully selects the freshest produce and transports it to her shop. The job is tough and physically demanding, but she doesn’t mind.
Her efforts pay off. Today, Risper makes around Ksh 1,000 in profit daily, a stable income that helps support her family.
Still, she faces challenges—especially from society. Some people question why a university graduate is selling fruits. Even her parents once thought it was a temporary thing.
But Risper is proud of her work. She knows it takes courage to go against expectations and do what works for you.
She hasn’t ruled out going back to school or working in her field someday. But for now, she’s happy running her business and taking care of her family.
Risper’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always come in a suit and tie. Sometimes, it comes in a crate of bananas and a lot of hustle.
