Family Economic Empowerment in the Kenyan Slums

Jane Wanjiku 43, is married to Patrick Kamande 48, and together they have three children Simon 18, Abigail 14, and Immaculate 1. A few years ago, Patrick, Abigail’s husband, suffered a stroke and Jane had to take up the mantle as the breadwinner for the family as well as the caregiver to her husband. When this happened, Jane found herself between a rock and a hard place. She could not find the means to provide for her families needs which included urgent medical care for her ailing husband, School fees for her teenage daughter Abigail who was in high school and run the risk of bad peer pressure and early teenage pregnancy, food, and other essential needs in the household.

Eventually, Jane was starting to get scared that her one-year-old child would soon get malnourished because she could not afford to feed herself and her child properly. Additionally her older son, Simon is a drug addict who would frequently get violent and harass her.

When Macheo Identified Jane, she was in a great deal of distress. She had all these problems which she could not find solutions to. After assessing her situation, Macheo realized that she had already managed to hire some 4 acres of land next to the river to start a farming business but did not have enough resources to start. We then helped her to purchase 2 bags of fertilizer as well as tomatoes seedlings, sukuma wiki seedlings (Kale), and spinach seedlings at a cost of Ksh. 5220. We also empowered her on ways to manage her income and savings.

Today, Jane has started making money through her farm. On average, she now makes between 500 and 600 ksh per day. This has enabled her to provide for her family's needs without strain. Her daughter’s fees are paid, her family eats a good and healthy diet, and this month, she will be enrolling in the National health insurance fund (NHIF) which will help cover her husband's medical needs as well as that of her children. She also has plans to buy a water pump later in the year. Her life today and that of her family has positively transformed. Thanks for your overwhelming support.

The shopping baskets of most Kenyans have become significantly smaller since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lost or reduced incomes and the rising cost of living are causing significant hardships for many Kenyans. Although inflation caused by supply chain disruptions and the rising cost of crude oil in the international market is being felt globally, the cost of living in Kenya has been increasing significantly for at least a decade. The prices of basic commodities, such as maize flour, sugar, cooking gas, and petrol, have increased by more than 46% since 2013.  For instance, the price of a 2kg packet of maize flour which was 100 in 2021, but today the same packet goes for 200 shillings. Kenya is also in an election year with a lot of uncertainty and potentially polarizing election year between the rich and the poor, and the economic outlook does not look very promising. Elections in Kenya are usually accompanied by declining economic activities and reduced investments as businesses and investors adopt a “wait and see” attitude in case of any election-related violence or unforeseen changes in government.

At Macheo we believe that creating productive employment opportunities is essential for reducing vulnerability and achieving sustainable economic and social development which provides income, security and empowerment, especially for women and extremely poor families. We are empowering the families to overcome the shocks and at least have an income that keeps them going.

With your support, we are able to reach out to families and empower them on

Success Story

*Crystal is 36 years and a   single mother of three children. When we met her, she could not afford the most basic needs for herself and her children. Her children were hungry and looked frail. One of them, Ken 10, was ill. He had an eye problem that hindered him from interacting with his friends or attending school. Crystal had done her best and taken him to see a doctor where she got a prescription to buy him spectacles but could not because of her strained finances. “I feel like I have failed as a mother" Crystal explained. She felt overwhelmed having to see her children sleep hungry and Ken still struggling with his eyes. Through the Macheo health intervention, Ken was taken to the hospital where the spectacles he needed were bought as well as his needed medication. He was finally able to go back to school and joyfully play with other children like before. In the meantime, Crystal received a cash transfer as a relief to help her with her emergency needs as plans for a more sustainable way of earning a living were being created. She used the cash transfer to buy food for her children and pay her rent. The Macheo social worker referred her to the Household Economic Strengthening intervention where she was first educated on financial management and given seed capital to start a small business selling second-hand shoes at her local market. The social worker continued to continuously follow up with crystal to monitor her progress. Through her business, Crystal was able to gain a profit of approximately Ksh 400 per day. She continued saving and impressively started a new business selling vegetables adjacent to her shoe business. Today, Crystal cannot hide her joy when you visit her. She is a proud entrepreneur who sustainably provides for all her children's needs. Her family has higher hopes for a better future because of your support.