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Kanini does what she loves in spite of her height


She goes about her daily business at stall 192 at Kenyatta Market.

Armed with a happy demeanour, Eunice Kanini is just the perfect fit for someone in the hairdressing industry.

At 4.2 feet, the mother of one says she never lets her height put her down.

“I love my job because it is where I get to apply my God-given talent,” says Kanini who has been a hairdresser for six years now.

Radiant smile

Her parents fondly call her Kanini, which simply means something tiny in her mother tongue, Kamba.

She responds with a radiant smile and asks, “What can I do for you?”

Aside from the occasional harassment from matatu touts who call her a baby, she says her activities are similar to those of any normal person.

“My husband is not a dwarf like me and neither is my three year-old son,” says the 32-year-old resident of Kibera.

Her dream is to move away from being employed at the salon to an employer at her own salon.

“I am establishing my client base before venturing full throttle into the management of a salon,” she says.

Her employer Francisca Mdei says Kanini is very industrious and her charm attracts customers.

Equitable sharing

Dwarfs have been championing for recognition and an end to discrimination.

On Tuesday, a group held an event at the KICC where they unveiled the Association for People with Dwarfism (APD).

According to APD chairman Joseph Wambugu, the association will lobby for an end to discrimination against dwarfs in the country.

“It will also fight for their right to recognition and equitable sharing of employment opportunities for its members,” he said.

During the event, participants said that many prospective employers were unable to look past their heights despite their talents and qualification for the jobs.