As the world marks this year's International Women's Day and celebrates the resilience, courage, and progress of women across the globe, one woman in Kericho is quietly redefining gender roles at a dusty construction site Nancy Cherubet, aged 34, is a strong-willed mother of five who has defied expectations by thriving in the male-dominated world of construction, mixing concrete, lifting heavy materials, and pushing loaded wheelbarrows alongside her male colleagues Clad in a dust-covered overall, worn boots, a safety cap, and a reflector jacket, Cherubet moves confidently at a private construction site near Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho, focused on digging the foundation for a new project that will soon take shape on the grounds.
Speaking exclusively to Kenya News Agency, she recounted how circumstances forced her to explore informal work after years of unsuccessfully seeking formal employment in the beauty industry.
Cherubet completed her secondary education and pursued a course in hairdressing and beauty at a technical training college, hoping to build a career in the beauty industry but despite practicing hair braiding privately, she struggled to secure consistent opportunities, and the income was not enough to support her five children, prompting her to explore other options.
She said she had to turn to casual work, offering laundry services in local estates, a job that earned her at least Sh 1200 per day, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her business as strict social distancing measures limited home visits, forcing her again, to find alternative sources of income. "When the pandemic hit, most people didn't want me in their homes due to the Ministry of Health protocols, and that's when I tried my luck in construction work," she said Today, she lives in Nyagacho estate on the outskirts of Kericho Town, and though the work is physically demanding, she has grown into her role with persistence and dedication "At first, it was very tough, many of the men mocked me or doubted that I could handle the labor, but I kept showing up, determined to prove myself," she said Cherubet now earns up to KSh 2,000 a day, depending on the type of work she's assigned and every shilling she makes goes toward providing for her five children, with the responsibility of paying school fees children as well as ensuring all other family's basic needs are met at the sole breadwinner.
