What may seem like just another national government project is a life-changing opportunity for some Kwale residents.
Immaculate Mwanzia, who refers to herself as a “hustler,” has seen her finances transformed thanks to the construction of Kwale Stadium. She now earns Ksh 25,000 weekly, up from her previous Ksh 400.
Her small kiosk, made of rusty iron sheets, serves as her office. It once operated as a grocery store, but she quickly rebranded it into a food vending kiosk when the construction began.
“I stopped selling groceries the moment I saw the construction workers arriving,” said Immaculate.
Known by many as Imma, she saw a business opportunity that could help her escape poverty. Kwale Stadium, currently under construction, will host this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations, a project spearheaded by the national government.
Imma compared her previous business selling groceries with her current food kiosk, expressing nothing but gratitude for the improvement.
“I started with food loaned from my local shop,” she revealed.
As we stood nearby, her kiosk was just a few meters away, providing food to customers sitting on stones outside, enjoying her well-cooked meals.
Despite a lack of capital and employees, Imma remained undeterred.
“One man, one army,” she says, describing her journey. With no staff initially, she worked tirelessly, making each day a success, which led her to where she is now.
“You can call me a CEO,” joked Imma, who now employs three workers, paying them at least Ksh 200 daily.
However, she also cited challenges with workers’ availability, as some fail to show up due to the demanding nature of the job.
As Mashujaa Day approaches, Governor Fatuma Achani emphasized that preparations are in full swing, with workers on site operating day and night.
Imma’s food kiosk is also busy around the clock. She works until 1 a.m. and wakes up at 4 a.m. to start preparing meals.
Grateful for her financial success, Imma thanked President William Ruto and Governor Fatuma Achani, hoping she never has to return to selling groceries.
“I pray that the President will visit Kwale more often so I can expand into other businesses,” she said joyfully.
Similarly, Rose Kemboi, another food vendor, once earned Ksh 500 daily hawking porridge. Now, she earns about Ksh 20,000 weekly, serving the construction workers at the stadium site.
However, Rose faces challenges due to rising food prices, which affect her sales. Some workers also complain about her prices, and she hopes the President will address the issue of high living costs.
During our conversation, Rose was interrupted by customers asking about food, highlighting another challenge as some customers leave without paying, leading to occasional losses.
The Kwale Stadium construction has also spurred other developments, including new roads around the town and the construction of a State Lodge, which will be used during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The Kenya Kwanza political party’s “Kazi Mashinani” slogan is being implemented in Kwale County, with these projects creating jobs for hundreds right from casual laborers to suppliers at hardware shops.
Governor Achani has officially invited the public to celebrate Mashujaa Day in Kwale, announcing that the stadium is 85% complete and that the county is ready to welcome visitors and investors.
Local vendors are appealing to the governor to allocate space for traders and hawkers to continue serving the public during the celebrations.
