In March, I visited Kakuma to collect stories from two Inclusive Futures projects operating within the camp and the neighbouring Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement. I travelled from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on one of only two humanitarian flights per week to the camp. My expectations of Kakuma as a chaotic place proved to be wrong.  The camp is very organised and closely guarded. For instance, it’s impossible to visit without the knowledge of those in authority.

Kakuma is a dry and dusty place. The sound of sand blowing in the wind fills the air, and the landscape is dotted with scrubby vegetation. The houses in the camp are made of various materials, including mud, sticks and plastic sheeting, though some have concrete floors and roofs, making them seem more permanent.

Being a refugee is already challenging, and for women with disabilities, these challenges can be even more severe. Some of the barriers they face include exclusion from education and employment opportunities, making it difficult for them to support themselves and their families. Also, women with disabilities frequently face stigma and discrimination, which hinders their access to essential services such as healthcare and social support. For those with mobility disabilities, the physical environment at the camp can also pose challenges due to a lack of accessible transportation and buildings.

There are a variety of programmes and services operating in Kakuma that are designed to help refugees integrate into Kenyan society. But the majority are not inclusive of people with disabilities.

This Inclusive Futures project, which focuses on women, aims to empower micro-entrepreneurs with disabilities – or those caring for them – to develop their businesses and livelihoods. First, it encourages private and public institutions to increase inclusion in their procurement chains. Then, it advocates for disability-inclusive policy development. Finally, it shares evidence and lessons learned on how to make livelihood programmes inclusive of people with disabilities.

The programme has already had an impact, as I found out when I met some impressive women with disabilities from our project.

Mary’s story

I was deeply moved by the story of Mary Melesa, a resident of Kalobeyei settlement. She lives with her eight children, runs a retail shop and has been supported by the project.

Mary left South Sudan in 2017 and told me she feels safe living in Kakuma. “I do not hear any gunshots, like I did in South Sudan,” she explained. “I have peace of mind, because there is no one that can come and attack us during the night.”

Mary has a physical impairment and finds it difficult to reach for items that are placed on shelves and to offer quick services to her customers. Through the project, she has received training on record keeping, finance management, marketing and business operations. She continues to receive individual coaching and mentorship, enabling her to develop her business skills and confidence. “Record keeping has transformed my business. I can now keep track of profits, who owes me, and day-to-day income,” she said.

Thanks to a partial grant, Mary has also been able to increase the amount of stock she can sell. As the sole provider for her family, this has made an important difference.

“I have been able to support my family. Of course, I’m both a mother and a father at the same time to my children.”

Nataparin’s story

I found the story of Nataparin, a single mother of three, equally moving. She travelled from her home in remote Turkana to Kakuma in search of medical care for her eldest son. While there, she learned about an Inclusive Futures project, which provides support to children with disabilities to access inclusive education.

Her son was given a wheelchair and Nataparin now pushes him eight kilometres every day to and from school. “I have that passion to take him to school regardless of the challenges,” she said.

Nataparin is the epitome of resilience and hope. She hopes her other two children will be able to attend school as well. Through our conversation, she also told me how she felt empowered seeing other women in Kakuma earning a living and how she was looking for ways to start her own business to sustain her family.