Firm career path enables Kenyan man to find feet in society
Brian Masengeli (right) monitors the flow of traffic at his station. OTIATO OPALI/CHINA DAILY
In August 2021, Brian Masengeli struggled to find work after graduating from Kenya's South Eastern Kenya University. The only job he came across was one as a data entry intern at a local company.
But something magical happened when he answered a recruitment advertisement in a newspaper that his father gave him, for a position at the Nairobi Expressway then under construction by the China Road and Bridge Corporation. It then set the young man on a firm career path.
The road was one of the flagship projects in Kenya under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Moja Expressway company, a public-private partnership under the Chinese group, was recruiting 36 toll collectors and two financial clerks for the major transportation link.
He was among the lucky few among 25,000 local job seekers to be called for interviews.
"On landing the job in November, we took thorough theoretical and practical training for four months," he said.
The 27-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, connecting the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the city's Westlands area, is a toll road. CRBC financed $646.3 million to construct the road, interchanges and toll stations. It collects the toll fees until its investment is recovered.
The expressway has helped reduce a two-hour journey to about 20 minutes, Masengeli said, a significant improvement on the economic front because it saves fuel and time for ordinary commuters, especially for business owners. It has also eased congestion on Kenyan roads.
"We started working officially in May 2022 and my first role was as a toll collector. Because of my dedication, hard work and due diligence, after working for just a month as a toll collector, I was promoted to the ticketing office where I worked as an assistant toll station master for about one year and two months," he said.
In March this year, Steve Zhao, Moja Expressway's chief executive officer, promoted him to be the first local toll station master. The position was previously held by Chinese experts as local staff members learned from them.
Masengeli said: "Working at the expressway has been a big transformation for me as an individual because I come from a humble background and this job has enabled me to find my feet in society.
"I have also been able to start and support my own young family through this job," said Masengeli, who is married and has a 2-year-old daughter.
Having worked with Chinese experts, Masengeli found them straightforward and admires the fact that "they expect you to learn and give you the opportunity and guidance to do so". This, he said, helps in inculcating honesty, integrity and due diligence in the workers.
Related articles
The North London neighbourhood plagued by anti
Shocking CCTV showing the 'attempted kidnap' of a Jewish man in Stamford Hill will renew fears the a2024-04-30Danish queens don't get to be crowned. But when Margrethe steps down this weekend, her daughter
It's ten thousand miles from Sydney to the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.Crown Princess Mary of2024-04-30Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are all smiles as they join his mother
Princess Beatrice was the vision of elegance in a burgundy ensemble as she joined her husband and in2024-04-30Oscars 2024: The Biggest Moments from the 96th Academy Awards
Some of the highlights from the 2024 Oscars ceremony in LA. Clockwise from top left: Director Jonath2024-04-30Chinese military ready to boost ties with Indonesian counterpart: defense spokesperson
The Chinese military is willing to work with its Indonesian counterpart to further consolidate strat2024-04-30US military ship heading to Gaza to build port
By Tiffany Wertheimer for the BBCUS Army Vessel General Frank S Besson set sail from a military base2024-04-30
atest comment