Edgar Otieno is making headlines in Kenya for his unconventional career path choice—he quit his bank job to start hawking pencils on the streets of Nairobi, the capital city.
Otieno, a graduate in Social Work from the University of Eldoret, has been hawking pencils since 2007. He left his position as a Sales Representative for Barclays Bank (now Absa Bank) due to low pay.
Local media quoted Otieno saying, “I studied Social Work at the University of Eldoret and was employed as a Sales Representative for Barclays Bank (now Absa Bank). However, because the earnings were too low, I decided to sell pencils. I have been doing this since the 2007 post-election violence.”
Despite working as a street vendor, Otieno maintains a sense of dignity and professionalism by dressing in neatly pressed suits, complete with ties and polished shoes.
However, he admits that his choice of attire presents challenges, as some people accuse him of being a state spy, a claim he denies.
Regarding earnings, Otieno claims to make a minimum of Ksh. 1,500 (about Shs43,000) every day.
