Meet the journalist who is also a bus conductor

He had hoped for a gratifying job after successfully completing his studies at the Nairobi’s Aviation College. He was wrong.

Joshua Mwabali studied mass communication for three years and exhausted all his resources with hopes of bright feature. But after his graduation in 2014 Joshua came face to face with bitter reality — the monster of unemployment.

He knocked on doors seeking employment in the media industry in vain. All his applications were turned down. Some companies did not even have the courtesy of sending a regret letter.

Bruised by the vagaries of unemployment, he took up a job as a primary school teacher — but left in a huff.

“I struggled to pay my fee with the hope that I would secure a job in the media soon after graduation. But with time I realised nothing positive was coming my way. I became a primary school teacher but the pay couldn’t sustain me, and so I left after five months,” Joshua told The Nairobian.

He later landed a job at Nairobi’s industrial area where he worked for a couple of months.

He says: “Life was tough. It literally gave me a smashing. I had no choice but to take any job that came on my way.”

After two years of hustle, Joshua met a longtime friend in town who informed him of a job vacancies at KBS. He encouraged him to apply for a job as a tout. 

He applied for the job and was lucky — but he had to raise some Sh15,000 training fee for a month long course.

After one month of training Joshua embarked on his new job as a makanga, his first route being in Kawangware. He had to learn to shout at the top of his voice to attract customers.

“My first day was stressful, handling persons with different personalities was challenging. There is a perception that majority of makangas are semi illiterate, they view them as illiterate persons who are there to steal their money,” he said. Adding: I once fogot to give back a customer his change — he called me alls sorts of names. When the day ended I thought of quitting but the challenges I faced before kept me going.”

Now pperating on the pipeline, Buruburu and KNH route, Joshua is also a freelancer at KBC voicing weekend news. He earns Sh900 a day at his makanga job as he still hopes for a chance in the media industry.