‘Simsim’ and groundnuts earn me at least Sh400 daily

Jane Waithera, 37

I’m both employed and self-employed. I work as a house help for my sister, and then use my free time in the afternoon to sell groundnuts and balls of sesame (simsim).

I’ve run my business for a year now, and what’s made it possible is working for a supportive and understanding relative.

If I were working for a different employer, I don’t think I’d have been able to start a business.

All I needed to start is Sh400, which I raised from my savings.

I used this money to buy a plastic bucket, packaging materials, groundnuts and sesame seeds, and I was good to go.

I do quite a bit of walking to sell my stock, which can be difficult to do when it gets very hot or it’s raining.

Moreover, there is a lot of competition to deal with. Also, customers prefer buying what they can see through the package, so I’ve found that packaging my products in non-transparent material slows down the movement of stock.

I’m now saving up to move into another phase of investment in the near future.

I usually start off with a full bucket of both groundnuts and sesame balls.

I don’t usually sell everything, but on a good day, I can make Sh400.

When business is slow, I’ll rarely go home with more than Sh250.