I sustain my family by supplying water in Kisii town

While on your way to Nyanchwa estate on the outskirts of Kisii town you will definitely spot John Mokua who fetches and supplies water from Nyanchwa stream to earn a living.

Mokua was brought up in Egesa location within Kisii in a family of four. He was the first born in the family.

“After my primary education, I could not go further with my studies because of poverty. I decided to look for a way to earn a living so I could help my parents support my younger siblings,” he says.

As his first job, Mokua landed a job working as a watchman but he was fired after a few years after his boss claimed he had a hand in a robbery at the company.

“It was after this that I joined a group of men who were supplying water in the town. We were five of us and we formed a bond that saw us support each other to grow,” Mokua says.

The business paid well and he was able to make Sh300 to Sh400 per day selling a 20-litre jerrican for Sh20 on a cart that could ferry 20 such containers in one trip.

“We all worked hard, making as many as six trips to the stream each day. We ensured that we saved some money and every year we bought a cart for one of our members and today we each have more than two such carts,” he says.

Mokua is now an employer with ten boys who help him supply water to his long-term clients each day. “I now spend most of my time in the stream filling up the cans leaving the boys to do the delivery. I then go collect the cash from my clients at the end of the day,” he says.

Mokua says he collects between Sh15,000 and Sh20,000 per day and after paying his employees, he remains with a good amount that sees him take care of his family effortlessly.