Earning a living from selling old newspapers

Nairobi; Kenya: For seven years, Florence Wanjiku, 34, has made ends meet by buying and selling old newspapers in Nairobi. This has enabled her pay school fees for her two children.

One of the children, now in Form Two, is deaf and she had to find her a special school. She says nothing will stop her from knocking on private and Government doors in search of old newspapers to turn a new page in her life and that of her children.

“I was introduced to this business by a friend. Though the idea was not appealing at first, it has sustained me and my children. Every week day, I visit offices in search of old newspapers. I have now developed a network of customers who call me whenever they have a huge collection. I also scout for new customers. It needs determination to visit offices and explain what you need. In some places, you need to convince security officers to allow you in. However, many have understood that it is the source of my daily bread,” says Wanjiku.

Her day begins at 8am when most offices open their doors. “This is my ‘office’ and the job pays for all my expenses,” she says.

At the end of each day, she can collect an average of 40kg, which she sells at Sh25 per kilogramme, which translates to Sh1, 000 per day.

This has turned the tide of her life thanks to a sound saving culture. She lives in Ngara, meaning she does not spend money on fare.

She added, “Saving is what is important to me. I also take simple meals like boiled maize. I live in a simple house with my two children.”

Wanjiku knows that knocking on office doors and walking long distances earns her a living. What is important, she says, is that she is working towards realising her goal, which is owning a retail shop.