- Age
- 28 Years
- Location
- Nakuru
- Marital Status
- Married
- Education
- Complete Secondary
- Pathways Segment
A field sales agent using digital platforms to attract customers and manage her work
When women use digital tools to earn, they often manage risk by separating the channels where they attract customers, where they build trust, and where they exchange money. This kind of channel choice lets them stay visible for work without exposing themselves to scams or conflict at home.
How She Uses the Phone
Ruth began using her phone for work when her supervisors at d.light encouraged agents to advertise products on Facebook. She was hesitant at first. In school, she had used Facebook only casually, borrowing her brother’s phone for assignments and occasional scrolling. But after posting a few simple photos of solar lamps and cookstoves, she began receiving messages from people she had never met. The increase in sales that first month convinced her that digital visibility was becoming part of her job.
Facebook is now central to how Ruth finds new customers. She posts photos of herself holding products, adds short captions with prices, and responds to enquiries through Messenger. WhatsApp plays a different role, handling follow-up questions, coordinating deliveries, and staying active in sales groups.
“Facebook brings them in,” she says, “but WhatsApp helps me keep them.”
Despite relying on digital outreach, Ruth insists on meeting customers in person before taking any payment. After nearly falling for a scam when a stranger claimed she would win a prize if she sent money, she set strict rules for herself. She shares only her work number, avoids sending money online, and verifies every order face to face. Her online visibility has also created tension at home. Her husband dislikes her using her photos in advertisements, worried about unwanted attention. Ruth continues posting because it brings in income, but she is careful about what she shares in order to maintain peace at home.
Her smartphone is the foundation of her work. She monitors her data closely, buying small bundles at night when they are cheaper, and uses this mainly for customer communication and updating records on the d.light app. When her previous phone was stolen, her business stalled immediately. She used her savings to buy another device within days. “I can’t work without my phone,” she says.
Her Ecosystem of Learning and Facilitation
Ruth first became comfortable with phones while she was still in school, borrowing her brother’s smartphone to complete assignments.
She learned by experimenting on her own, asking for help only when she needed it. When she began using her phone for d.light sales, she taught herself how to post on Facebook, reply to customers, and navigate the company app. Once someone shows her a step – downloading an app, sending a location, adjusting a setting – she picks it up quickly and applies it across other apps.
For more complex issues, Ruth turns to her brother-in-law, who runs a small repair shop. He helps her block suspicious accounts, resolve technical problems, or decide when the phone needs servicing. After he shows her something once, she is usually able to handle it on her own the next time. When it comes to learning, Ruth watches, tries, and then does things independently.
