Miriam Chepchumba’s journey from village girl to trailblazing mechanic
Gilbert Mutai and Joyce Jepkosgei-KNA
At just 21, Miriam Chepchumba, a single mother and certified mechanic, is challenging deep-seated norms in Kenya's male-dominated automotive industry.
Her calloused hands tell a story of resilience that is inspiring young women.
Chepchumba's journey began at the heart of Kericho’s highlands where as a child she would watch tractors navigate the steep plantation roads.
"While others covered their ears from the noise, I’d move closer, fascinated by how these machines conquered hills that left people breathless," she recalled.
This childhood curiosity became a determination when she chanced upon a television feature about a female mechanic in Nairobi.
"That documentary planted a seed. For the first time, I saw concrete proof that engines weren't just a man's domain,” Chepchumba said.
At 17, armed with nothing but passion, she approached local garages seeking apprenticeship, but the responses were disheartening.
"They told me to go learn hairdressing instead," she recounted.
One garage owner finally relented but handed her a broom instead of tools and said, "sweep first, then we'll see.”
For six months, Miriam swept floors, organized tools, and watched the mechanics work during her breaks.
At night, she pored over discarded repair manuals by kerosene lamp light. Her persistence paid off when a neighbour's motorcycle broke down. After several mechanics failed to fix it, Miriam asked for a chance.
"They all laughed until I pointed out the faulty carburetor,” she said. Within hours, she had the engine purring. Word spread quickly through the close-knit community, and soon villagers were bringing their broken appliances and bicycles to ‘the girl who fixes things.’
Even as her reputation grew, Chepchumba faced daily challenges that her male counterparts never encountered. Suppliers would quote her higher prices, assuming she wouldn't know better. Customers would also arrive at her garage asking to speak to ‘the real mechanic’ and some would even refuse to let her work on their vehicles until she demonstrated her expertise.
"There were days I wanted to quit but I knew giving up would just prove their stereotypes right,” she revealed.
Her turning point came when a truck driver scoffed at her abilities. "He said he'd wait for a ‘proper mechanic’," she explained.
Miriam calmly asked him to describe the problem, correctly diagnosed with faulty fuel injector, and fixed it within an hour. The stunned driver not only paid her double but became one of her most loyal customers.
"Now he tells everyone, ‘Take your car to Miriam, she sees what others miss’.”
Determined to formalize her skills, Chepchumba enrolled at the Kisumu National Polytechnic.
Juggling motherhood, evening classes, and weekend work at the garage tested her limits. "Some nights I would study with my daughter sleeping on my back," she said.
Her 2023 graduation with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering silenced many doubters and earned her respect in the industry.
Today, her modest two-bay garage has become something of a local institution.
What began as a one-woman operation now employs two male apprentices and services an average of 15 vehicles daily.
Her reputation for thorough, honest work has attracted clients from across the county, including tea factory managers and local officials.
Beyond repairs, Chepchumba has created a space for learning and empowerment. Her apprentices, who initially joined with reservations, now speak of her with admiration.
"She knows engines like a mother knows her child," 19-year-old Peter Koech remarked.
Every Saturday morning, she hosts free basic mechanics workshops for local girls.
"I want them to see these tools as possibilities, not just men's things,'" Miriam said.
Her vision extends beyond her current operation. Chepchumba is saving to establish Kericho's first women-led full-service garage and training center.
"Imagine a place where young women can learn mechanics without facing the barriers I did," she said.
The county government has taken notice and recently invited her to advise youth during vocational training programmes.
The impact of Chepchumba's work is visible throughout the community. Fathers who once opposed their daughters pursuing technical careers now bring them to her garage for inspiration.
Local schools have incorporated her story into their career guidance programmes. Perhaps most tellingly, three other young women in Kericho have recently enrolled in mechanic training programmes.
With her combination of technical excellence, business acumen, and unwavering determination, Miriam Chepchumba isn't just maintaining vehicles, she's helping steer her community toward a more equitable future.