World · Africa · 17 hrs ago
Funding cuts leave women entrepreneurs in Kakuma struggling with costs
Women refugees running tailoring businesses in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya say their work has become harder as NGO support has declined.
Neema Florence, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nyakoang Kai Tenga, from South Sudan, started their tailoring businesses in 2023.
They previously received sewing machines, materials and help with repairs and other costs.
Now they must pay for materials, electricity and machine repairs themselves.
Florence says her monthly income has fallen from at least Sh10,000 to about Sh2,000 to Sh4,000.
Tenga says she sometimes earns about Sh400 in a day and sometimes earns nothing.
The account gives no details about what support may be available next.
Funding cuts have left women running businesses in Kakuma Refugee Camp paying for materials, electricity and repairs previously covered by NGOs.
Tailor Neema Florence says her monthly income has fallen from Sh10,000 or more to about Sh4,000, and sometimes about Sh2,000.
Her fellow tailor Nyakoang Kai Tenga says the cost of materials and machine repairs takes money away from business and family needs.
Tenga says she earns about Sh400 on a good day and sometimes nothing on a bad day.
- Who
- Women entrepreneurs in Kakuma, including refugee tailors Neema Florence and Nyakoang Kai Tenga.
- What
- They are struggling with rising business costs after NGO support declined.
- When
- Funding began dwindling in January 2025, according to Florence.
- Where
- Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.
- Why
- NGOs say funding cuts mean they can no longer provide support for materials and other business expenses.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Florence says she began training to become a tailor.
Florence and Tenga started their tailoring businesses in Kakuma.
Florence says support began dwindling.
Florence and Tenga were photographed displaying their products at their tailoring shop in Kakuma.
- Florence's former monthly income
- Sh10,000 or more
- Florence's current monthly income
- About Sh4,000, sometimes falling to about Sh2,000
- Tenga's earnings on a good day
- About Sh400
- Florence's tailoring training
- Began in 2022
- Tailoring businesses
- Started in 2023
What people are saying
The NGOs are complaining that they do not have the money as a result of funding cuts.
The materials and other tailoring expenses are very expensive.
Sources
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