Charting New Horizons: Mary Wanjiru’s Entrepreneurial Evolution

This BRMM case story follows Mary Wanjiru, a 33-year-old Kenyan returnee whose journey spans two labour-migration cycles in Dubai. After an initial domestic-work role and a second stint as a salesperson marked by discrimination, high living costs and limited career mobility (page 1), she returned to Kenya determined to rebuild her life. An unsuccessful onion-selling business pushed her to pursue entrepreneurship more seriously. Through the ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training under the BRMM programme, she acquired practical skills in record-keeping, market research and business planning (page 2). These skills enabled her to secure a 20,000-shilling loan, expand her restaurant, increase stock and plan for long-term growth. The case highlights the transformative impact of SIYB training on returnees’ livelihoods and resilience.