I have faced rejection in every corner leading me to the streets

Grace Wanjiru shares her real-life story. She lives in Naivasha, but her family originally came from the Rift Valley. They moved after the post-election violence, during which they lost their brother. Grace was married at the age of 14, and by 16 she had her first child. Unfortunately, her marriage did not last—she separated from her husband, who later remarried. She then went to Thika to work as a househelp, earning 3,000 shillings, most of which she sent to her parents. After leaving that job, she went to live with her sister. Unable to find other work, she began selling her body to survive. At times, she was forced to take her child with her because she had no one to look after the baby—this was her second child. Later, Grace began thinking about traveling to the Gulf for work. Her plans succeeded, and she went to Saudi Arabia, expecting to work as a househelp. However, her employer harassed and exploited her. Before the lady of the house returned, Grace ran away and sought deportation so she could go back home. When her employer was contacted, she was told to return to work, but she refused. In her story, Grace also narrates how she contracted a severe infection and how she faced rejection from her own family.