Life comes at us in so many ways; one man’s journey may not be your journey. Our journeys are as diverse as we are.
For Laureen, a young lady who resides in Nairobi, she understood that it takes grit and resilience to forge a way into a male-dominated industry where she yearned to work. This was the journey she wanted to take.
As more women empowerment initiatives came up, Laureen knew that she had to be her own source of strength in life. She works in the matatu industry as a tout, a job that she wholeheartedly loves doing.
Speaking in an interview with a local media outlet correspondent, Laureen narrated that she was compelled to join the industry after dropping out of the Cooperative University due to financial constraints in their family.
However, since her return home, her parents were strongly against the idea of her joining the male-dominated industry. Eventually, they stopped opposing Laureen’s decision to become a tout.
Her parents’ fears were however justified given that their daughter would subsequently need to develop thick skin to survive in the workplace.
“Being in the matatu industry is something I have always longed for, but my parents were against it. It got to a point where I wasn’t working, and I depended on them fully, and that’s when they released me to work in the matatu industry,” Laureen recalled.
She went on to state that at first, she was apprehensive of the job given that she didn’t know how to get a footing in the profession.
“I managed to get all the requirements for becoming a tout, but I didn’t immediately become one because I was fearful of how life would be. I moved in with a relative for the time being, but it was difficult staying with her,” the young lady shared.
Laureen had no other choice but to confront her fears in order to earn a living, survive, and support herself.
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Today, she works as a conductor for the leading matatu sacco, Digital Luxury, which operates on the Nairobi-Waiyaki Way route. She operates on a matatu named Brilliant, with over 2 years of experience.
Furthermore, Laureen has also become an inspiration by encouraging both men and women to face their fears and take on any roles available to them, but with a smart approach.
She commands a following of 6,500 on her TikTok account, with 82.9k likes. Occasionally, she gives her fans a glimpse into a day in her life.
Being a matatu tout also comes with its challenges. Laureen admitted that the environment can be ‘toxic’ for a newbie, particularly women, as there is constant disrespect from colleagues, customers and other people.
“I must say it is very toxic being a tout. You are being insulted, or you have to insult someone to defend yourself. So sometimes you are at risk of losing yourself. But nonetheless, it was an interesting journey as I have now done this for two years,” Laureen remarked.