Having gone through tough and excruciating moments in life should not deter one from rising above such pain and excelling.
Aletta Maya Shiyave Muriki is one of many who have survived gender-based violence (GBV), and opted not to dwell in their experiences.
Today, she is a multifaceted entrepreneur, nursing student, wife and mother.
Muriki’s entrepreneurial spirit emerged when she began doing hair in a women’s shelter, where she found solace after her ex-boyfriend burned down her home.
Saving money from her hairstyling efforts, she eventually secured a place of her own. Her love for beauty services then led her to become a makeup artist and lash technician.
“My inspiration comes from all the hardworking people, and especially in the beauty industry, I look up to people like Noccky Hair Salon. I always admired her, and she has been getting awards for doing what she loves. And just everyone, the man at the traffic lights showing up, makes me not give up. My passion is just being of service to people. I love serving, which is why I’m studying nursing. I enjoy always putting a smile on someone’s face,” she said.
Navigating her roles as a nursing student, wife and mother, Muriki said she faces the daily challenge of balancing a demanding schedule.
Her daily routine involves attending nursing classes from 08h00 to 16h30, followed by attending to her beauty clients after 17h00.
Sundays are reserved for cherished family time.
Acknowledging the difficulty of maintaining balance, she expresses gratitude for her teenage daughter, who actively supports her with household responsibilities, allowing her to pursue her work.
She emphasised that her passion for her craft makes the balancing act more manageable, driven by the joy of changing women’s moods and bringing smiles to their faces.
She attributes her balanced workload to her husband’s understanding and unwavering support.
“Challenges are a lot, with odd working hours putting a strain on my relationship with my family mostly, and my school. It is really hard because sometimes I go so early to work and by the time I come back, they are all asleep. Sometimes I knock off late and tired, but still, I have to study for tests and exams. I don’t get to spend so much time with my husband, and cook his meals or help out with kids’ homework. It’s really hard, but my husband is always there when I’m not around. He helps with everything, even helping me with my assignments,” she narrated.
As much as it’s challenging being a mother and being able to excel in her professional endeavours, Muriki wants to inspire her children that they can excel in anything they put their minds to, and work hard towards it. Although there is never enough time for her family, she always makes use of it to create time for them, like taking a day off from work just to create that bond.
Her biggest supporters are her family, husband, sister and clients who have become friends and have been loyal to her.
“For the future, I want to incorporate health and beauty. I am still working on it, but I have great people around me I want to approach and see how I can combine this together, so just watch the space. And for my various roles, I am definitely planning on learning more. But hopefully, I will be in a position to train and offer employment to the youth, give back to the community, and empower and uplift others,” she enthused.
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