Widowed Mother of Seven Triples Business Income Through Refugee Support Programme
Kalobeyei, 30 March 2026
Akitela Epong’s daily sales jumped from 2,000 to 4,500 shillings after receiving business training and 50,000 shillings in capital goods through a partnership programme in Kenya’s Kalobeyei settlement.
From Tragedy to Transformation
In the dusty landscape of Kalobeyei settlement in Turkana County, where refugee and host communities coexist, Akitela Epong’s story exemplifies the power of targeted economic intervention [1]. The 37-year-old Kenyan mother faced overwhelming challenges after her husband’s death in 2022, leaving her as the sole provider for seven children [1]. “Mimi bwanangu aliaga mwaka wa 2022, nikaachwa na watoto saba ambao wananitegemea (my husband passed away in 2022, and I was left with seven children who depend on me),” Epong explained [1].
Struggling with Limited Resources
Before receiving support, Epong’s small shop generated meagre returns that barely sustained her large family [1]. Her daily sales ranged between 1,000 and 2,000 Kenyan shillings, with minimal profit margins due to severely limited stock [1]. “Nilikuwa nikiuza vitu vya shilingi 1,000 hadi 2,000 kwa siku. Faida ilikuwa ndogo sana. Hii ilisababishwa na kwamba sikuwa na vitu vingi, stock yangu ilikuwa ndogo (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),” she recalled [1]. The situation left Epong struggling to meet basic needs whilst caring for her dependents in one of Kenya’s most challenging environments.
The Wezesha Project Intervention
Epong’s fortunes changed when she was selected alongside 24 other women for economic empowerment training through the Wezesha project, implemented by the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) in partnership with the IKEA Foundation [1]. The comprehensive programme provided training in fundamental business skills including opportunity identification, financial management, market analysis, and strategic growth planning [1]. In December 2024, RCK followed up the training with a substantial injection of capital goods worth 50,000 Kenyan shillings [1]. “RCK walinipea usaidizi wa capital goods za dhamana ya shilingi 50,000… Hii iligeuza biashara yangu pakubwa sana (RCK gave me support with capital goods worth 50,000 shillings… This transformed my business tremendously),” Epong noted [1].
Remarkable Financial Transformation
The impact of the intervention proved immediate and substantial, with Epong’s daily sales increasing to between 3,500 and 4,500 shillings, occasionally reaching 7,000 shillings [1]. This represents a minimum increase of 75 per cent from her previous maximum daily sales [1]. The enhanced capital allowed Epong to diversify her business beyond basic goods, expanding into clothing and shoes [1]. The improved income has enabled her to invest in her children’s education, with two now attending secondary school, whilst she can afford uniforms and books for her younger children [1]. This transformation demonstrates how strategic economic support can create sustainable pathways out of poverty for vulnerable families in refugee-hosting communities, generating positive ripple effects that benefit both individual households and the broader local economy.