With the rising cases of Kenyans being mistreated in Saudi Arabia, very few success stories are told of those that found greener pastures in the foreign land.
Katerina Murigi's story is one to give hope to others seeking to travel to the Gulf. She went to Saudi Arabia at 22 in 2014 alongside three friends to make ends meet but things did not go her way initially.
She was told by her agent she was going to be employed as a driver only for her to be assigned as a house help earning Ksh18,000 per month.
In an interview with Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, January 26, Murigi noted that she only worked for five months before shifting to another area.
She was hosted by another Kenyan in Saudi Arabia who linked her to an employer dealing in supplying baking goods.
"I was told that there was an employer looking for someone who can bake and I stated that I was a fast learner and would appreciate the job," she narrated.
She noted that at her new employer, they would make about 500 cakes in a day for supply.
After four years at the job where she earned Ksh60,000 a month, she opted to come back to Kenya and start her business.
"I used to learn some new techniques from the boss and was inspired to establish a professional cake shop in Kenya. I watched so many YouTube videos on how to bake then I bought some equipment and shipped them to Kenya," she told Kenyans.co.ke.
Upon arrival in Kenya in December 2018, she took a break to settle down and started her business in 2019. She currently delivers cakes across the country at an extra fee.
"My business sustains me. I am grateful to my clients who refer me to others with events like graduations, weddings, birthdays, etc," she shared.
The entrepreneur conclusively detailed that she hoped to train more people on how to bake.
"I am looking for a venue to conduct the classes. I work at my workshop at home and would like to have a better place for the training," Murigi explained.
She encouraged all those traveling to Saudi Arabia and other countries to be disciplined and follow the laid out rules.
"I know so many people who have succeeded in Saudi Arabia, all you require is discipline. Your employer is telling you to follow rules they also follow," she urged.
