Widow's Business Income Triples After Economic Training Programme in Kenyan Settlement
Kalobeyei, 11 May 2026
Akitela Epong’s remarkable transformation from earning 1,000-2,000 Kenyan shillings daily to 3,500-7,000 shillings demonstrates the power of targeted economic empowerment. After receiving 50,000 shillings worth of capital goods through the Wezesha project, this mother of seven expanded from selling basic household items to clothes and shoes, fundamentally changing her family’s prospects following her husband’s death in 2022.
From Widow to Successful Entrepreneur
Living in the Kalobeyei host community in Turkana County, Akitela Epong faced overwhelming challenges after her husband’s death in 2022 [1]. The 37-year-old mother found herself as the sole provider for seven children, struggling to maintain even the most basic standard of living [1]. Her small shop, which formed the backbone of the family’s survival, generated meagre daily sales of between 1,000 and 2,000 Kenyan shillings with severely limited profits [1]. “I used to sell between 1,000 and 2,000 shillings per day. The profit was very small. This was because I didn’t have many goods, my stock was limited,” Akitela explains, reflecting on those difficult months when every shilling counted [1].
The Wezesha Project Intervention
Hope arrived through the Wezesha project, implemented by the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) in partnership with the IKEA Foundation [1]. Akitela was selected alongside 24 other women from both refugee and host communities to participate in a five-day economic empowerment training programme [1]. This initiative represented more than just skills development; it offered a pathway to financial independence for women who had been marginalised by circumstances beyond their control. The programme’s holistic approach recognised that sustainable economic transformation requires both knowledge transfer and practical support to implement new business strategies.
Capital Investment Transforms Business Prospects
In December 2024, the tangible support Akitela needed materialised when RCK provided her with in-kind capital goods worth 50,000 Kenyan shillings [1]. This investment proved transformative, enabling her to expand her product range beyond basic household items to include clothes and shoes [1]. “RCK gave me support with capital goods worth 50,000 shillings. This transformed my business tremendously,” Akitela notes, emphasising the dramatic shift this support created in her commercial operations [1]. The diversification strategy not only increased her potential customer base but also reduced the vulnerability associated with selling a limited range of products in a challenging economic environment.
Remarkable Financial Transformation and Future Prospects
The results of the intervention speak volumes about the programme’s effectiveness. Akitela’s daily income increased to between 3,500 and 4,500 Kenyan shillings, with some days reaching as high as 7,000 shillings [1]. This represents a minimum increase of 75 per cent based on her previous maximum daily earnings [1]. “My customers increased, and the money I used to make per day increased. Now I sell between 3,500 and 4,500 shillings per day. Sometimes I even sell up to 7,000,” she explains with evident pride in her achievement [1]. Beyond the immediate financial benefits, this transformation has enabled Akitela to support her children’s education and build a sustainable foundation for her family’s future. Her gratitude reflects the profound impact of targeted economic support: “Above everything, I am grateful for the support I was given. It has helped us so much. Truly, this has transformed our lives” [1].