Jovial Reflects on Her Struggles as a Young Mother Working at a Mombasa Guest House

Renowned coastal songstress Jovial has opened up about a difficult chapter in her life, revealing how she once worked as a receptionist at a guest house in Mombasa to make ends meet while raising her young daughter.

In an emotional series of posts shared through her Instagram stories, the “Queen of Vocals” revisited the tough period, saying memories of her past came flooding back as she was unwinding after a recent performance.

Jovial revealed that during this time, her daughter was only four months old and life’s challenges had pushed her to take up a receptionist job at a guest house in Saba Saba. To supplement her meager income, she and a colleague found creative ways to survive.

“Yesterday, after the show, we were having a conversation about hotels, and I remembered when I used to work as a receptionist at a guest house in Saba Saba, Mombasa,” she said. “My child was just four months old.”

She described the guest house as a typical low-budget facility—“the kind where you’re handed slippers in different colours.” Most guests, she said, came during the day for short stays and rarely spent the night.

This pattern presented an opportunity. Jovial and the housekeeper would clean up rooms after guests left and quietly re-rent them to new clients, without the management’s knowledge. They would split the earnings and use the extra income to meet their basic needs.

“After the guests left, I’d clean the room with the housekeeper, change the bedsheets and towels, and we would resell it. We’d share the revenue,” she explained.

Anticipating criticism from some fans, Jovial urged people not to judge her, pointing out the desperation and low wages that left her with little choice.

“Don’t judge me,” she pleaded. “The salary was low, and I had to take care of my baby. Someone might ask why there were no CCTV cameras, but at that time, God didn’t allow it—because I had no other way to buy milk for my child.”

The singer said those hard times shaped her into the resilient woman she is today, crediting the experience for building her strength and determination.

“Life was hard back then. Now I look at my baby and I smile—she’s a survivor, just like me. I’m grateful to be rewriting my story,” Jovial said. “Sometimes I break down when I look back, but I know those moments made me who I am.”

Her heartfelt story touched many fans, offering a glimpse into the journey behind her success and the sacrifices she made to rise above adversity.