Alive & Kicking UK

How did you start working as a stitcher?

2 years ago I trained as a stitcher because it was the only available job.

How did you start working at Alive & Kicking?

My friend who works here told me about Alive & Kicking.

How do you find the working conditions?

I prefer it here because with other jobs I spend a lot of timeunemployed.

I see they have music playing in the workshop - what is your favourite music?

I like gospel music.

How far do you travel to get to work? How do you get to and from the workshop?

I live in Kibera [a slum in Nairobi]. If I walk it takes me an hour and a half. If I take a matatu [a local bus] it takes 15 minutes.

What time do you start work? And finish?

I work from 8am to 4.30pm.

What do you eat for lunch?

I have tea and bread or mandazi [a local doughnut]. When I have enough money I eat ugali or a solid meal.

FAMILY

How old are you?

I am 25 years old.

Do you have any children?

No. Although I look forward to having a husband and kids. I will keep working when I am married, depending on my husband. I don't want to not work because it breeds poverty.

How many people do you support on your income?

I support my Mum, my 3 sisters and my grandmother.

LIVING IN NAIROBI

Is it hard to find work in Kenya?

Yes. It is hard because you need connections to get a job.

Do you originally come from Nairobi? Where do you come from?

I originally come from Mur'anga [Central Kenya].

How many languages do you speak?

I speak Kikuyu at home, Kiswahili most of the time and English.

How long have you lived in Nairobi? Why did you move?

I moved to Nairobi to work in a relative's road-side kiosk, but trained as a stitcher part-time so I could get a job.

How do you like the city of Nairobi?

When I first got here I realised that everyone must work to survive; even housewives have small businesses.

SPARE TIME

What do you do in your spare time/on weekends?

I do my laundry and go to church/church activities.

Do you watch TV? Movies? What do you watch? Where do you watch it?

Sometimes. I don't have a TV so I will go to a relative's house to watch it. I like Vitimbi [a local soap opera] and Cuanda Seas Mia [a Mexican soap opera].

Do you watch sporting events here in Nairobi?

I go to watch local football.

Do you watch international sports? Do you support any international teams? Who is your favourite sports personality?

I watch athletics and the World Cup. My favourite teams are Brazil and Germany, because they play well and make me happy, although I think Brazil dropped out of the World Cup because they played with too much pride.

My favourite player is Ronaldo.

Who are the most famous Kenyans in your view?

I am not sure.

Can you name any famous British people?

Not really.

What do you imagine the UK is like?

Very developed. I don't think people suffer in England because of inherited wealth from family members who worked hard before. Unlike Kenya, where people have to work hard to make a living because their parents are not well off.