Phyllis Magige grew up in a polygamous setting where life was difficult and resources scarce. Her mother, the second wife, unfortunately bore the stigma attached to having only female children as she gave birth to six daughters. In the 1980’s, male children were held in higher regard and by default, attention was placed on the other households with male children. To ease her load, Phyllis’ mother sent her to live with an aunt in Nakuru. Life didn’t get rosier, but she had a roof over her head.

After completing her secondary school education in the year 2000, Phyllis enrolled at the Kenya Medical Training Center (KMTC) in Kisumu for a certificate course in medical training. Halfway through the course, her parents could no longer afford to finance her studies. Without many options that would provide financial stability, she got married immediately and shortly after went back to college and pursued a diploma in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). She joined her husband, Thomas Ogello, in his Jua Kali (artisan) business, supplying metal sheets and equipment to different stores in Nairobi after she completed her studies. Their collaboration, however, did not pan out as planned and they decided to venture into business separately.

The entrepreneurship bug had bit Phyllis, and this saw her use her KES. 8,500 savings to open PhyllVan Enterprises. Here, she would sell sardines to the community at Muthurwa market under the name Mrs. Tom and would make an average profit of KES. 10,000. In 2019, she learnt that the KCB Foundation (KCBF) seeks to offer vocational skills scholarships to interested youth under its 2Jiajiri programme.

The 2Jiajiri program provides technical skills scholarships for out of school youth aged 18-35 years (upskilling) and existing micro entrepreneurs (skilling), business development services and discounted asset and capital financing for the graduates as well as providing market and industry linkages to build a better-quality workforce.

Phyllis therefore enrolled for a plumbing and pipe fitting course before shortly realizing that that wasn’t her calling which as it turned out, was artisanry. She changed her course through a partnership facilitated by the KCBF offering sponsored manufacturing training.

Having successfully gone through the programme and with skills in tow, the now 41-year-old included metal fabrication and artisanry to her business in 2021. Already popular for selling fish in her community, the transition was easy as she had already established notable footwork in and out of her shop and a successful social media presence.

Currently, she specializes in metal fabrication where she uses galvanised sheets to make farm and kitchen tools such as wheelbarrows, hoes, buckets, pots, metal trunks and many others. In a good month, she rakes in KES. 50,000 and KES. 20,000 in a bad month.

“Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor, but life’s good fortunes were not forthcoming. Access to quality family life and education were a challenge but I did not lose hope. I had to fend for my family in whichever way possible.” Phyllis said.

Like any other business looking to expand, PhyllVan Enterprises faces capital challenges which have seen her unable to employ staff or grow her business. It is her wish that 2Jiajiri continues to provide mentorship and incentives to its beneficiaries or low interest loans to cushion them during hard times.

With the 2Jiajiri program creating over 119,000 jobs since its inception in 2016, the focus remains on formalizing and dignifying the informal sector and growing microenterprises to a place where they can employ an average of 5 other young people.