Authors posts

“When we sell we eat, when we don't we sleep hungry.”

“It's been challenging because we are still living. We are still using water. We are still living in our house, so the rent days keep adding up.” - Mildred Lucia Lucia Mildred The COVID-19 Pandemic has made life difficult for businesswoman and mother of 4, Lucia Mildred | Photo by Brian Otieno/...

COVID-19, Cancer & Hunger: The daily adversities of family man Albert Otieno

“I tell you, I've never believed that I could not do anything, or that anything could defeat me. So I tried anything that would make money because I have two children, I have a wife, I have rent I have to pay. I have responsibilities.” - Albert Otieno Albert Otieno 32-year-old security system...

THE KENYA CASH CONSORTIUM RESPONSE TO THE FLOODING CRISIS IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID LAND (ASAL) COUNTIES OF KENYA

Abdi Mohamed Farah - Maramtu Village Abdi Mohamed Farah Abdi Mohamed Farah is living with a disability, but he wasn’t born with it. Before the accident in October 2017, he was working as a loader (locally referred to as a “turn boy”) in a transport company. But then, his left leg was amputated,...

“Mami, Bora Uhai.” | “Mum, at least we are alive.”

How cash transfers helped one survivor find independence, security and peace

A Year of Shocks and Reflections for Kenya’s Oil and Gas Industry

The first half of 2020 has been brutal to the oil and gas industry in Kenya. First came the news that the joint venture partners of Kenya’s first oil development project - Tullow and Total - had launched a joint sale of their stakes in Project Oil Kenya. Then came the C OVID -19 pandemic, and the...

A cash transfer helped Evans feed his family after losing his job to Covid-19

Evans Momanyi Mugambi is a 32-year-old father of four. He lives with his spouse and young children in Kibera. Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, Mugambi used to work as a driver – transporting commercial goods and personal parcels for clientele who have since dissapeared. “The coronavirus has...

If you had not sent me the money...I would have been chased away

Priscilla Ngilla is a 47-year-old mother of two – a young boy and girl. She worked as a school cleaner before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and washed clothes for rich clients on the side to earn up to 2,000 KES ( € 16.57) on some days. Since the pandemic struck, private school closures and the...

Food, water and rent for Onyango’s household of 7 thanks to Cash transfers

Emmaculate Onyango is a 25-year-old mother of three children who also is the main breadwinner for a household of 7 people. Onyango used to juggle a series of odd jobs to make a living before the Covid-19 pandemic. Her primary source of income was washing clothes for wealthy clients in Nairobi, and...

Cash transfers can help 60-year-old mother Robina stay home and safe from Covid-19

Robina Kwamboka is a 60-year-old woman taking care of four children, by herself in the Kibera informal settlement. To earn a living, Robina works as a cabbage saleswoman, on commission from other traders. Since the pandemic struck, the construction workers that used to buy Priscilla’s cabbage no...

Is there a dawn to follow the dusk of COVID-19 for Beatrice Mbendo’s family?

“...Do you remember when we met last time, I told you I was five months pregnant?” I pause and give a faint “yes”. “Well, I just wanted to meet with you so that you can write my story again. I am due in October, it’s just a month away. I have nothing for the baby...” said Beatrice Achungo Mbendo, a...