After working for six years at one of the top hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya as a pediatric nurse, Mary Wairimu’s monthly salary of 45,000 shillings ($322) only increased by 5,000 shillings. One day in October 2021, she sat at her home and started thinking about her life.
“With my experience and years of service, I ought to be somewhere higher even in ranking. But I was still a basic bedside nurse,” the 30-year-old told Devex. “I had the skills and knowledge but I was rotating around the same place. If I am doing this work and I am still getting the same pay, I am still living the quality of life I used to live, why should I be here, why can’t I just leave?” she asked.
Her ability to help her extended family had declined as the cost of living increased, and she started considering emigrating to the United Kingdom. The following week, Wairimu spoke to her brother, with whom she shared responsibilities. He agreed to give her a loan to add to her savings and she started her relocation process, which Kenyans colloquially call “journey of hope, immediately.
About the author
Pelumi Salako
Pelumi Salako is a Nigerian journalist covering culture, technology, inclusive economies, and development. His works have appeared in Al Jazeera, The Guardian, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, NPR, Foreign Policy, and elsewhere. He holds a B.A. in History and International Studies from the University of Ilorin.
