After finishing high school, I was zealous about doing life without uniforms, teachers on duty, and a bell to remind me of my daily routine. Like what most high school leavers are struggling with, I found myself in the same spot. I wanted something to do. Anything that would bring me money, I wanted.
And like a dream come true, the call came ” Niaje Kibe, unadai job?’ Quickly I responded “eeh maze, niko mbaya sana.”
I was invited to go for an interview in Westlands!! Can’t begin to tell you guys how excited I was imagining I would work at one of the richest suburbs in Nairobi.
The day came. I cladded my best and went for the interview. We were like ten or so people sitting at a round table waiting for the interviewer. She came. A woman dressed in red. Bold, confident, and a little extra. My new boss, I thought.
“Good morning all of you and thank you for coming. I want you to write all your dreams and what you’d want to become in the future.” As excited as I was. I jotted down a list of things that came to my mind. I remember imagining myself driving the best car and working in the corner office of a tall building in Westlands.
She took what we had written and went down to business. The projector got projected and the room got serious. “If you want all these dreams to come true, you must be ready to work. You have three options. One, becoming a sales representative for my Company, which sells health products. Two, invest with us 16,500, which you can do now, and invite 5 people to invest as well. When your invitees invest 16,500, you get a share from the 5 of them. The more you invite people, the more money you get” Three, you can do all options.
Wait. What?? No. Things didn’t add up. How can I give these people 16k, money I had never made my whole life? I stayed silent as I watched fellow interviewees asking for money from home. Honestly, I was tempted to call home but something stopped me.
She later told us of her story, how she bought a BMW X6 and all the wealth she had accumulated. The woman also invited an old man to testify about how he became a millionaire after joining the company. I saw people in the room moved by the testimony.
I left the interview confused. What type of job is this? I asked myself several times. Curious-me asked around about such businesses and that’s when I was introduced to the term pyramid schemes. Haa!! and they are many in Kanairo. They pose as network marketers but in reality, they are a thievery scheme. Their clients are naive form four leavers and innocent people. Once you pay the amount they want, you are left to work your way up the pyramid. No leadership, no mentorship, and no growth.
The form four leavers here and anyone unfamiliar with such business, be aware. They come posing as network marketers. It’s when you get down to business that they will tell you to invest money. How they want a jobless person to get that kind of money does not make sense. When someone asks you to give money to get a job. Run like Joseph.
