LIST OF TOUGHEST JOBS IN KENYA

Working environments vary across various professions, however, some valiant Kenyans have taken up jobs that most would cower if asked to fill in for a day, as they are considered some of the toughest jobs in Kenya.

At some point in our working lives, we have all convinced ourselves that we have the worst jobs on the planet. But let’s take a minute (or ten) to spare a thought for those who put their lives on the line, on a daily basis to make bread.

Window cleaners

You’ve most likely seen them suspended so high above ground that they look miniature in size.

Window cleaners at work.FILE

Just like on a house, the windows on skyscrapers, high-rises, and other large office buildings all need to be cleaned as a part of regular maintenance. 

The men and women who keep these windows clean do so from outside the building, often hundreds of feet up in the air, suspended above the street below.

Different methods are used by window washers to remain suspended outside a building and clean it. 

Many high-rise buildings have rigging on the roof of the building, which window washers attach to a scaffold on ropes, which is then lowered down from the roof to give the cleaners access to windows. 

In situations that are not quite so high up, it is not unusual for a window washer to clip onto a bolt driven into the side of a building and remain attached while washing the windows. 

Safety harnesses, ropes, and belts are all used every day, and the lives of the washers using this equipment are always at stake.

Military and Police

These brave and women need little introduction as their acts of valor have been well documented over the years.

A file photo of KDF soldiers during a patrol in Kotile town on the Garissa-Lamu-Somalia border, as part of the Linda Boni operation aimed at flushing out Al-Shabaab terrorists.FILE

Constable Ali Kombo, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer, became a household name in 2019 for his heroic efforts to usher countless Kenyans to safety during the Dusit D2 terrorist attacks.

His is the story of every man and woman who opts to put on the uniform, whether military or police and place themselves at harm’s risk on behalf of Kenyans.

Their salaries rarely reflect their sacrifice but this doesn’t stop member of the Kenya Defence Force from marching into enemy territory to ensure the safety of their nation.

Bodyguards 

The high-risk nature of the job is in the name itself. These group of people are literally willing to die by placing their bodies on the line for their clients.

You’ve most likely spotted them with their menacing looks, dark sunglasses and suspiciously over-sized coats during VIP events such as political rallies.

A man or woman in this line of work dedicates their entire life to their clients.

It is a highly specialized job that requires intense and constant training in fields such evasive driving, crowd scanning, identifying markers among others.

In a case in 2011 where Kabete MP George Muchai was killed, his two bodyguards and drivers were not spared.

Kenya Power’s Flying Technicians

In May 2019, a special unit of Kenya Power technicians was dispatched to Tower 26 in Kiambu following a blackout that affected most parts of the country.

After about an hour or saw of jaw-dropping stunts while suspended from a helicopter while working on the extremely high voltage transmission lines, power was restored.

The unit went back to their quiet lives and were it not for a video of their operation that went viral, most Kenyans would not even know of their existence.

These unit of flying engineers are usually up in the air and servicing 400KV transmission lines at least twice each month.

Journalism

Unknown to many, journalism is considered one of the most dangerous professions in the world. 

According to a UN report,  more than 500 killings during the last 10 years have seen journalists as the victims. Saudi national Jamal Khashoogi’s brutal murder is still fresh in the memories of his colleagues across the world.

Journalism, is not a career for the fainthearted, and is, therefore, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Investigative journalists in Kenya have had their fair share of run-ins with the authorities for airing stories that touch on the untouchables.

From death threats, to beatings, to being forced to flee the country when their shows air, this group of curious and thought-provoking individuals tend to place everything on the line for a story.

Honeysuckers

The name may fool most but Kenyans know what the honeysucker truck job entails.

It has to go down as one of the toughest jobs in the land as it involves unclogging, cleaning and draining sewers across any given neighborhood.

The stench is enough for most to steer clear of the profession but there are still those who chose to get down and dirty to ensure our sewerage systems remain clog free.

There also exists a group of men known as “froggers”, whose key job description entails emptying long-drop toilets, or pit latrines, in slum areas.

Usually, they make Ksh300, but when it rains froggers can earn as much as Ksh1,000 due to the excess overflow in areas of Nairobi sewer lines don’t exist.

Teachers and health workers, moreso  during this Covid-19 pandemic deserve a special mention as they walk out of their houses everyday knowing they are placing themselves at the very frontlines.

Their risk of exposure is abnormally high  but they still take it in stride in a show of pure commitment to their professions.

By Kenyans.co.ke