Family Economic Empowerment in the Kenyan Slums

Dear Friends,

The pandemic has impacted household finances negatively through an increase in unemployment, a reduction in incomes, growing cost of health care and an increase of prices for critical commodities, as food markets are disrupted. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the closures and reduced working hours recommended to curb the spread of the virus.  Families with dependent children are being adversely affected by the financial, emotional and physical implications of the pandemic and resultant lockdown. The negative impact has been worse for poor households, women, children, the elderly and chronically ill. 

Macheo’s cash transfers has helped to maintain access to healthcare, protect consumption, support protection and recovery of livelihoods. One of the strongest and most consistent findings regarding the cash transfer programs, and we are experiencing it now, is the contribution to reducing hunger. Beneficiary households receive monthly cash transfers that vary according to the size of the household. But despite all the challenges, we have seen remarkable resilience from our beneficiaries, who despite all the challenges caused by covid 19, they have risen up. 

One such beneficiary is Lucy who is 38 years old mother of five children.  She had been identified earlier in the Macheo intervention and a business was set for her. But when covid 19 came, the government declared a lockdown and restriction of movement for people. She could not sell or get products from the market. With time she became needy, was struggling to feed her children, paying rent was a problem among other economic related issues.

However, when the government opened up the economy again and people were allowed to move around, she picked herself again, borrowed some money and was able to kickstart her business again. Even though the pandemic negatively impacted the business, she is still able to continue to provide basic needs for herself and the children and therefore I would say that, her case is a success story to Macheo's intervention.

We thank you for your continued support in helping the needy in the slums and rural areas of Kenya.