By Habiba Wakio
Fundi prepped himself once more with his elder sister's assistance. He was looking
forward to his upcoming interview at a renowned company. After sending countless job
application letters, he was relieved that one of them had finally brought him good news.
His sister had leapt with joy when the call came through. She even cooked pilau, a meal
she had learned to prepare for the Arab lady she was working for.
“Don't worry, bro. You'll ace the interview,” she said with a reassuring smile. “You're the
best candidate for the job. It is their loss if they are unable to recognize that.”
Though having a Master's in Software Engineering was a great accomplishment, most
companies hired workers with years of experience. The organization he had been
volunteering for a year never considered him whenever a vacancy popped up. The
person in charge always filled the position with his friends or relatives. Fundi quit a week
before.
The queue was quite long when Fundi arrived for the interview. He was called after the
twenty-fifth applicant. After some questions, he was convinced that the job was his. He
left the room with a broad smile, his head held high. As he passed an office, a
conversation sparked his interest, stopping him.
“What is going on, Shiro?” A male voice demanded. “You and my aunt assured me the
job would be mine once Mr Kiarie resigned! Why did you advertise it?”
“Relax, Chege,” the woman said, chuckling. “The position is yours. The interview is just
a formality. Uncle Njoroge is aware that you'll be joining the company soon.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Of course. That is why mom insisted on taking you to college to earn a certificate. Too
bad you didn't finish the course, but you can still do it as you work."
“Great. I can't wait to join you.”
Fundi shook his head, his hands balling into fists.
“They almost fooled me,” he muttered as he stomped out of the building, his head
hanging low.
He was panting when he reached home. Wanting to let out his frustration, he decided to
run home. He took off his coat and got to work on the laptop his sister had bought him
when he started campus life.
Enough is enough, he thought as his fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard. After
some minutes, he was done typing his article titled “Unveiling Corruption in Hiring
Practices." He had expressed his opinions on employers hiring relatives instead of more
qualified people who would make their companies or organizations more productive. His
sister connected him with a publisher, and the next thing he knew, his article had gained
more views. Some comments came from the people he had recently met during the
interview. He went through their profiles and realized they were qualified, just like him.
Soon, Fundi received an invitation to work for a reputable organization aimed at fighting
for human rights and eradicating corruption. He was happy to be a change maker.
