Being a parent without employment is one of the hardest struggles anyone can face. People look at you daily and assume everything is alright, yet deep inside, you’re sinking under stress. As a mother or father, you wake up thinking about school fees, food, rent, and even the smallest requests your children make.
This is the life I endured for more than a year after losing my job in Nairobi. My name is Peter, and I live in Umoja. I’m a father of two, and the time I remained jobless almost crushed me completely. Every day felt like an endless weight on my shoulders.
I previously worked in a hardware store in Industrial Area, but the business slowed down and the owner had to cut staff. I was among those let go. At first, I believed I would quickly find another job because I had experience. I applied everywhere, walked from company to company, dropped my CV, and even sought referrals from friends.
But still, nothing changed. Months went by, and I remained unemployed. My wife was the only one trying to keep us going, selling vegetables at a small stall near our home. Some days, she earned so little that we couldn’t even manage supper.
As a man, it tore me apart. I felt defeated and ashamed. There were days I pretended to leave the house early so the children would think I had a job, yet in reality, I was just wandering around hoping for something to happen. The pressure made me…TO READ MORE, TAP HEREa
