Naomi Thuo had a passion for automobiles since she was a child, and she knew her job would always involve them.
She had such a strong leaning that even after finding a job in the hospitality industry, she felt something was still missing.
Thuo eventually resigned that employment and moved from Nyandarua to Naivasha, where she enrolled in Wambari Technical College to learn motor vehicle repair and mechanics.
Today, she is one of the most in-demand mechanics in Naivasha. She is one of many women who continue to resist the prejudice that automotive engineering is just for males.
The stereotypes are founded on socialization and the physical anatomy of women who are thought to be weak and incapable of surviving in some jobs that require a high level of physical activity.
Thuo, 29, is one of the women who has overcome adversity to become one of the most sought-after technicians in Naivasha town, thanks to her expertise in auto repair.
Thuo claims that she did not complete her secondary education and left out of school in Class 8 after becoming pregnant, and that her passion for mechanics drove her into the profession in order to support herself and her child.
Born in the Kinangop district of Nyandarua county, the mechanic recounts that after leaving her mother home in 2009, she moved in with her sister, who was residing in Naivasha at the time.
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Thuo started in the hotel industry, but her ambition to work in a garage kept her going.
She was fortunate to attend Wambari Technical College in Naivasha, where she studied motor vehicle repair and mechanics, with a focus on general engine servicing.
Thuo’s mother initially resisted her ambition to pursue a career in mechanics. She adds the road hasn’t been simple because some consumers prefer male mechanics over female ones.
Despite the fact that she did not complete her college degree owing to financial constraints, she has continued to provide excellent services to her clientele.
Thuo says she intends to return to school and complete her education in order to obtain the necessary certifications to succeed in her work. However, she has been able to master a variety of talents on the job.
She notes that her 11 years in the profession have allowed her to grow tremendously and learn a variety of skills that have helped her perform her job even better than her male peers in the garage she works in.
Thuo’s motivation, she claims, stems from a desire to give her customers the best possible service while simultaneously earning enough money to provide a comfortable life for her child and advance in her career.
She would also like to encourage other young women to choose jobs that are traditionally considered male-dominated.
