Feature: Kenyan workers hope for sunny days despite slump in economic growth

Peter Moseti, a 34-year-old casual laborer, has a defiant spirit that has kept him going despite financial uncertainties and diminishing prospects for greener pastures.

The father of three has lived for eight years in an informal settlement located on the eastern edge of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

An avid cyclist, Moseti was in a blissful mood on Friday morning as he hopped into a well maintained bicycle to zoom to his work station in Nairobi's industrial area.

In a interview with Xinhua, Moseti spoke about his treacherous journey from his native village in Western Kenya to Nairobi in search of opportunities.

"The economic hardships in the village can overwhelm even the most hardened souls, and I have never regretted migrating from my village of birth fourteen years ago," said Moseti.

He scored an average grade in high school and could not join a middle level college due to financial difficulties in the family.

The second born in a family of eight was determined to spare his parents the agony of competing for meager resources with other siblings.

When an opportunity arose for Moseti to travel to Nairobi and work in a construction site, he took it up without hesitation.

"It was one year after I completed high school when a distant relative alerted me about an opportunity to work in a construction site in one of Nairobi's oldest suburbs. Based on the circumstances of the day, I could not resist the offer," Moseti told Xinhua.

He was able to eke a living in a demanding and often scorned career but has no regrets since it gave him a firm grounding in city life.

"People in big cities scorn at manual work yet we all cannot fit in white collar jobs. My stint in construction sites was not only rewarding but gave me a solid foundation in Nairobi," he said.

Moseti married in his mid twenties and switched to a different career due to huge financial demands of a young family.

Now a casual laborer in a detergents manufacturing company. Moseti enjoys higher perks and job security due to a collective bargaining agreement his employer signed with unions. He intends to retire and start his own business after five years.

"There is more satisfaction in self-employment since it is possible to manage personal affairs without too much hassle. This is the route I aspire to follow soon," Moseti said.

Millions of Kenyan workers share Moseti's aspirations to improve their financial circumstances despite inflationary pressures.

Those who spoke to Xinhua during International Labour Day on Friday were optimistic the economy will record a revival in the coming months and unleash benefits to hardworking citizens.

Joseph Irungu, a middle-aged mason, stressed that resilience of Kenyan workers sustained economic growth despite external threats like insecurity.

"Those of us in the construction sector can not complain since opportunities keep on springing up as investors put up rental apartments," said Irungu.

The 2014 economic survey launched on Wednesday indicated the informal sector created more jobs than the public and private sectors combined in Kenya.

Kenyan officials and representatives of labour movement, who spoke during the Labor Day cerebrations on Friday, hailed the contribution of ordinary workers to the country's economic growth.

"The factory worker, farm hand, teachers, nurses and construction workers are our country's greatest asset. The tenacity of our workers in the face of economic uncertainties is profound," said Acting Labour Cabinet Secretary Rachelle Omamo.

Her words accurately described the enduring patriotism, energy and resourcefulness of Kenyan workers.

The lull occasioned by Labour Day holiday on Friday did not sap the energy of Simon Mutiso, a newspaper vendor in his late 20s. Mutiso had woken up at dawn to collect the newspapers and distribute them to loyal clients in their homes.

He said the demand for Friday newspapers had peaked as Kenyans relaxed in their homes during the holiday. He added that despite a slump in newspaper sales due to the onslaught of technology, vendors were still making reasonable profits.

"You have to be very innovative and versatile to survive in Newspaper business. Nevertheless, it is not all gloom despite stiff competition," Mutiso said. Endi