The Changing Balance in Households amidst the Shocks of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Kamukunji village, Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing government policy on the prevention of the spread of the pandemic pushed poor urban households into extreme mental, social and economic stress. This study shows the impact of pandemic containment public policies on everyday life in Kamukunji, a low-income urban settlement in the region of Eldoret. It discusses the ability of social protection measures to palliate the socioeconomic consequences of containment. An individual-centred approach was adopted in this study based on face-to-face interviews, observations and informal discussions with residents of Kamukunji. The study shows that COVID-19 and its prevention policy caused widespread loss of income: small businesses collapsed and employment was lost. As a result, households were faced with a deep psycho-socioeconomic crisis, which necessitated major adjustment to their everyday life. The study further establishes that though chiefs and village elders were responsible for the identification of vulnerable households in view of their enrolment in the social protection programme, residents lacked general information on how the enrolment process and the distribution of food aid would be conducted. This led to mistrust and frustration. In addition, the study highlights that households experiencing this crisis relied more on social capital, extended through social networks within Kamukunji itself, whilst in rural areas family networks provided temporary safety nets. However, some households in distress adopted coping strategies which aggravated the psychosocial wellbeing of their members.