Kiambu: For decades, Kenya’s transport industry has largely been viewed as a man’s space; from matatu conductors shouting destinations at busy stages to PSV drivers navigating chaotic highways and tuk-tuk operators working long hours into the night. But across Kiambu County, a growing number of women, in particular mothers, are steadily redefining that narrative.
According to Kenya News Agency, driven by rising living costs, unemployment, and the responsibility of providing for their families, women are increasingly entering transport-related jobs, which were once considered socially unsuitable for them. Many are single mothers balancing long working hours, insecurity, and public scrutiny while raising children and keeping households afloat.
For Margaret Wanjiku, a conductor with Kiwaliru Sacco, survival and motherhood are what pushed her into the matatu sector. By 5 am every morning, the single mother is already awake in her home in Kambaa, Githunguri, preparing her child for school before heading to Kikuyu town, where she begins her shift as a conductor. She has worked in the industry for one year.
Margaret says her family initially resisted the idea of her joining the industry, fearing harassment and exploitation from male colleagues and passengers. ‘My sister told me men would take advantage of me, but I followed my heart because I knew what I wanted,’ she recalls. Her daily work involves dealing with insults from some passengers, stage levies, and constant advances from male customers asking for her phone number. Still, she says the work has enabled her to pay school fees and support her mother financially.
At the Kiambu Town stage, Diana Mbayache maneuvers her tuk-tuk through busy streets from morning until evening. For the young woman, the attraction to the sector was simple: daily stable income. ‘This job is daily pay work. The more trips you make, the more money you earn, so it becomes easier to cover expenses,’ Mbayache says. Diana works with Picking and Dropping Mobile Taxis Sacco and has been in the industry for over two years. While she is not a mother biologically, she supports her sister’s education. ‘As a lady, you fear working late because of kidnapping, theft, or harsh passengers,’ she explains. Despite this, she says women should not be discouraged from joining the sector. ‘Your future is determined by what you do now. Work hard and do not give up,’ she says.
For Winnie Njeri Mwangi, a conductor with Kaka Travelers Sacco and a single mother of two sons, transport work has become the backbone of her family’s survival for the past five years. ‘There were limited jobs I could fit into, and I realized I could work as a conductor,’ she says. Her workday begins at 5 am and often ends late in the evening, forcing her to rely on neighbors and friends to occasionally help with household chores and childcare. ‘Sometimes I come home and find my children already asleep,’ she says. Winnie says intimidation from male colleagues and insults directed at women remain among the biggest challenges in the industry. However, seeing her children healthy and in school keeps her motivated.
At the Sacco level, some operators say they are putting in place measures to encourage more women into transport work. Gabriel Kimani, a manager at Kiwaliru Sacco, says the Sacco has waived joining fees for women to encourage recruitment. ‘We welcome women because they are hardworking and know how to relate with customers,’ he says. At Kaka Travelers Sacco, stage clerk Phillis Njeri says workplace rules against harassment and flexible leave arrangements have helped improve conditions for women workers.
Government agencies have also increasingly emphasized women’s economic empowerment within informal sectors. The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action says its programmes are aimed at enhancing opportunities for women and vulnerable groups to participate in economic development through skills training and entrepreneurship support. First Lady Rachel Ruto has also championed greater support for women pursuing economic independence. ‘Women do not lack ideas. Women are diligent. They have only lacked access to financial capital,’ she said during a women’s group forum. Rachel Ruto praised government programs, including the Hustler Fund, Nyota Fund, and the Women Enterprise Fund, saying these initiatives are breaking long-standing financial barriers that have limited women’s progress for decades.
As Kenya continues conversations around gender equality and inclusion in male-dominated industries, women in Kiambu’s transport sector say their greatest motivation remains simple: providing for their children and building dignified lives through honest work.
Source: Kenya News Agency
