Family Economic Empowerment in the Kenyan Slums

When a health crisis like Covid 19 emerged, it created shocks to the economic, social and health systems, causing different implications for families especially women and girls, with gender impacts across various dimensions of wellbeing.The most marginalized and deprived households are not only the most vulnerable to infection from the virus, but they are the most impacted by the economic shutdowns.  Economic challenges during the outbreak continue to pose a serious threat to family businesses and expose them to increased risk of exploitation and abuse. Girls and young women facing severe economic shock are more likely to take on high-risk work for their economic survival. 

At Macheo we believe in empowering the community so that they can become better caregivers for their children. We have continued to support vulnerable families with cash transfers to meet their immediate needs. 

Our success Story

*Nia is a 32-year-old mother of five children.

When we first met Nia, she was struggling to pay her rent, was in a lot of debt, and her children could not access the most basic needs of food security, water, and even school fees. She felt really desperate and stressed. The Macheo social worker referred Nia to the Macheo  Economic Empowerment Intervention.

Nia underwent financial and management training to teach her on ways to save and avoid debt. She was also taught on how to manage her income in different areas like house rent, where she relocated to a cheaper house. After proper training, she was then given seed capital to start a business she had wanted to for a long time. She started selling fish at the local market. Within no time, Nia's business started to do well and she now gets a daily profit of approximately Ksh 600 ($6USD), this has enabled her to provide for herself and her five children. Nia has better hope for her and her children’s future. All her children are now going to school, have a safe place to sleep and never have to sleep hungry again.

We are thankful to our partners for the support they have given us. On behalf of Macheo and our beneficiaries we say 'Thank you'. 

Kenya, like many other countries, is now experiencing the third wave of Covid 19 which threatens to erase all the gains it has made as a country in fighting the pandemic over the last year. As of March 15, 2021, there have been 113,967 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 88,596 recovered patients and 1,918 related deaths. The Kenyan government continues to impose nationwide curfews as a means to curb the spread of the virus, while continuing to uphold the basic mandatory Covid 19 precautions. The beginning of 2021 saw our schools and other public places of gathering reopen, after a 10-month curfew imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, after the country lifted restrictions by reopening these places, members of the public became neglectful in following basic Covid 19 precautions like wearing masks in public, sanitizing, and keeping social distance. Sadly, this neglect has led to the onward surge in Covid cases in both the rural and urban communities unlike before where the rural areas were considered preferably safer.

On the brighter side, Kenya has begun its Covid-19 vaccination rollout. The vaccine rollout will be done in three phases. The first involves 1.25 million people and runs between now and June 2021. Phase two will run between July 2021 and June 2022, targeting the most vulnerable, including the elderly and those above 18 years with comorbidities.

As for Macheo, 2021 presented itself with a new feeling of a return to normalcy after the year that 2020 had been. Covid had affected both our work and the way we work in the communities we are involved. We had quickly already adjusted to the new normal and had to re-adjust again following the new ease of restrictions. As we returned, it was most paramount for us to ensure that the children under our care and our staff are safe and protected. We are guided by a framework that is vigorous and making actual and meaningful changes. We know that it works and we make use of expertise as well as lessons learned over the years to help us do the best for more children in Kenya.

We are extremely grateful for your generous and continued support this first quarter of 2021 that has enabled us to continue with our work during these unprecedented times. This report reviews Macheo’s work in the period January - March 2021 and is meant to update you on the lives you transformed including also how your donation was utilized. Below also we have shared with you one example of how your donation is making a huge difference this quarter. Thank you for standing by us. We hope we can continue working together throughout the remaining part of 2021 to ensure we continue to help many children who are going through challenges especially during this pandemic. Your support continues to make a difference and means a lot to her families here in Kenya.

Our impact with your partnership 

Jane* 43, is married to Patrick* 48, and together they have three children Simon* 18, Abigail* 14, and Immaculate* 1. A few years ago, Jane’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 ran 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, sukumawiki seedlings, and spinach seedlings at a cost of Ksh. 5220 ($50). 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 ($5-$6) 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 have positively transformed.

Thanks for your overwhelming support. Without it these changes would have never happened.