This archive report was first published on 14 July 2021.
July 14, 2021, marked a turning point for many Kenyans as the country struggled to contain the spread of Covid-19. For Aisha, a 21-year-old resident of Kibra DC in Nairobi, the pandemic brought more than just economic hardship.
Her husband, a tailor, stopped providing for the family in March 2020, leaving Aisha as the sole breadwinner. With a daily wage of Sh300 from casual domestic jobs, she struggles to make ends meet, often relying on her mother for food and support.
‘Sometimes I wish to die with my children,’ Aisha opens up about her struggles with mental health. ‘Every time I ask my husband for money, he says he does not have a penny yet his business is still running.'
With nowhere to turn, Aisha has found solace in mental awareness sessions held weekly by a local women’s empowerment organisation called Superb. The organisation, founded by Yasmin Nassur, provides emotional support to women and girls affected by the pandemic.
‘Women are going through a lot. They lost jobs, their businesses failed or they can’t get jobs. They literally don’t have any money to provide for their children. Others are being abused by their husbands,’ says Yasmin Nassur.
A 2020 joint study by UN Women et al. found that women experienced higher stress levels (60%) than men (56%) during the pandemic. The report highlights the disproportionate burden of mental and psychological health on women.
