The struggles women face on the Path to Excellence: Overcoming Challenges and Rising Above

Growing up in Kiambu, Nyaguthii was surrounded by the delicious flavors of Kikuyu cuisine. But there was one thing she struggled with, making chapatis. Despite her strong connection to her culture, making this simple yet important dish always felt like a challenge. But she was determined to turn her chapati failures into family favorites. Here is her story: When she first married Waiganjo, she didn’t know much about making chapatis. Waiganjo loved chapatis and would often say, “Nyaguthii, you know the way to my heart is through a good chapati.” Nyaguthii would smile nervously, hoping he didn’t notice the fear in her eyes every time it was chapati time. Her first attempts were far from perfect—sometimes they were too hard, other times too oily. Waiganjo, being the kind man he was, never complained, but deep down, Nyaguthii knew she wasn’t doing it right. Their daughter, Wanjira, was still young, but even she seemed to know that chapatis should be better. “Mummy, why are these chapatis n...

Balancing studies, work, and family is one of the biggest challenges young mothers face. Sleepless nights, endless responsibilities, and moments of doubt can make it seem impossible. Monicah knows this struggle well. Her journey was tough—stressful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming. But with determination and hard work, she proved it was possible. Monicah always wanted to continue her education, but she wasn’t sure when to start. After getting married, she left her job and started a computer services business. Life became even busier when she had two children. Managing the business while taking care of her family was no easy task. Despite her efforts, the business struggled financially. Bills and debts piled up, forcing her to make a difficult decision. She moved the business to Turbo, where her husband had built a house and shop. It was far from Eldoret town, but stability was her priority. The shop wasn’t ready, so it took six months before she could open. When she finally did,...