Millennials broke and idle during Covid-19 pandemic

The socioeconomic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic can’t be overstated. The turbulence has forced so many people from all over the world out of their comfort zones.  Mass layoffs have seen many lose their livelihoods, forcing them to trim their budgets and move to cheaper neighbourhoods.

This new and uncertain normal has also caused many to consider entrepreneurship, while others have taken more jobs to enhance their financial security.

But it is not all doom and gloom. This period has also allowed many to reflect on their relationships with their loved ones, while others have abandoned mundane activities to focus more on those that make them happy and more fulfilled. Many others have discovered their deep-seated anxieties and weaknesses, thereby becoming more self-aware. 

Whereas everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, millennials have been the biggest victims. A survey by Clutch, a business to business review platform, puts the reduction of millennials’ spending during this time at a staggering 60 per cent.

So, what adjustments have young Kenyans made to ride this storm? How will these changes impact on their lives in the long run? Four of them share their experiences.

Hellen Muhonja, entrepreneur

This year, I recorded the greatest lowlight of my life – the dramatic and unexpected collapse of my business. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I owned a stall at a mall in Eldoret town where I was selling African print bags, clothes and jewellery. The business was doing well but when Covid-19 came, I had to shut it down. The mall managers asked me to leave and free the space up for others.

I stayed without work for two months so I had to find other ways of surviving. Also, my savings quickly got depleted and my bills started piling up. I was forced to trim my food expenses significantly, and I even went for a couple of days without electricity. That was the darkest period of my life.

In a bid to get back on track, I tried hawking ladies shoes without success. Pushed to the brink, I decided to start a shoeshine business. It was a tough but necessary move. Most people couldn’t believe it. Shoeshiners in Eldoret thought I was bluffing when I went to consult them about the business idea.

Thankfully, they welcomed me and I became part of the family. I bought the required equipment and now, two months on, I can pay my rent and other bills.

Even though I didn’t like it, I had to strike out all recreational activities from my budget so that i could save money. I don’t go out during weekends or meet friends for lunch anymore. Affording food and shelter is my biggest priority at the moment.

I am a teacher by profession and now that the education sector has been severely impacted by this crisis, my career prospects don’t look so good. I was hoping to have graduated by now, but the ceremony has been deferred. But despite all this, I am still determined to pursue my career goals.

I have learnt some tough but important lessons during this period.  I now know that it doesn’t matter what you do for a living, as long as it is legal. No job is shameful or inferior. Today’s unpredictable world requires quick-witted people who can make the most of any situation, however difficult. 

Having additional skills, besides your key competencies, is invaluable. While academic certificates are important, skills like hair cutting and styling, nail art application and shoe shining might come in handy.

I thank God because I’m now about to expand my business and employ two more women. Who would have thought I would make it this far?

Stephen Machua, social entrepreneur

I am passionate about creating digital solutions to everyday problems.

I was about to complete my second Master’s degree in Canada when the pandemic invaded the world. I was planning to come back home in March but most countries suspended international flights and I had to find ways of surviving in a foreign country.

I have recorded varying experience during this pandemic. Sometimes I wake up happy and energised, but I completely lack optimism on other days.

I am here on scholarship which means that most of my basic needs are taken care of, and I also have a strong support system in my family.  It would have been much more difficult if I had to fend for myself.

In March this year, I participated in a virtual programme where participants were being encouraged to explore innovative solutions for combating the challenges brought by Covid-19.

The two-day programme left me harbouring a deep desire to develop a solution to this public health crisis. Now, four months later, I am using my academic knowledge and my networks abroad to drum up support for Kenyan innovations through my social media platforms.

I have also co-developed an online video conferencing platform known as Chemba, which provides virtual meeting rooms to those who are unable to access good internet connectivity. This idea was inspired by the growing need for online meetings.

Recognising the social and economic challenges posed by the pandemic, and the need to support locally developed products and services, has been my biggest discovery. The “Buy Kenya Build Kenya” call has never made more sense.

My perspective about what is most critical for the survival of mankind has also changed. Governments, businesses and communities need to invest more on health infrastructure and personnel.

Duncan Koech, CEO of Tourcy Travel

My business provides air ticketing services, visa facilitation and tailor-made tour and holiday packages for clients.  I started it three years ago after graduating with a degree in economics and statistics from Kenyatta University.

This pandemic has brought with it great turbulence both in my business and personal life. My health and livelihood have been threatened.

The tourism industry is among those hardest hit by the pandemic, and my business almost came to standstill. With most airlines suspending operations for months, the number of travellers decreased dramatically, thereby affecting our revenue streams.

To pull through, I have had to adopt a number of cost-cutting strategies. However, we have decided to take this period of reduced activity to grow our online presence.

As a travel director, I frequently move in and out of the country for business engagements.  I have, however, had to cut down on this to minimise the risk of infection and to cut costs. I now work from home.

I don’t have a family of my own yet, but it has been months since I visited my relatives in Kericho. My family has also had to do with very little financial support from me.

I have learnt many valuable life lessons from this pandemic, especially on the importance of planning for the future, embracing technology for remote working and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Going forward, I will seek to leverage on technology to improve our interactions with clients, and to enable our employees to work remotely. We also plan to scale up our hygiene practices at the workplace.

Ridempta Muthoni, student

This was supposed to be my final year and I was so excited about completing my studies at Moi University, but my plans keeled over as a result of Covid-19.

At the start of the pandemic, I was interning at a local radio station, working hard to build a career in journalism. On one weekend, I travelled home to see my parents only for the government to restrict movement in and out of Nairobi. I couldn’t go back to work, and that is how my internship ended. Now, I have nothing to show for the three moths I was there, which is a major drawback.

Now that I am stuck at home with hardly anything to do, I am so broke. I took up social media management gigs for churches that conduct services online, but I am making just enough money to get by.

I am a social person and I usually have many friends. But now that I have been unable to meet and interact with all of them, I have discovered the value of having a small social circle.

Before, I used to waste time holding many meaningless conversations, but I have since chosen to nourish my soul and explore new things. Consequently, I now spend less time on social media and this has helped me cut on internet costs and to put my time to more productive use such as reading books and blogs.

This has exposed me to new perspectives and helped me to become a better writer. It has also been a season of learning new skills. Already, my younger brother has taught me how to make beaded ornaments.

I am also learning some video editing techniques through YouTube tutorials, and this knowledge might come in handy in my career.  If not for the pandemic, I probably wouldn’t have gained these skills.

I have learnt to stop complaining and to adapt quickly to circumstances, especially those that I can’t change. After all, not everything goes according to plan. I have also learnt to live in the moment, and to stop obsessing over what the future holds.

My family and I haven’t spent much time together since 2018, mostly because of my academic engagements. This period has taught me the need to cherish family relations, something I was never keen about.

For so long, I have held on to certain toxic emotions, but I am now more self-aware because I’ve had ample time to reflect on myself.

But patience has perhaps been my biggest lesson of them all. I have realised that we all needed a breather from our various preoccupations, and we have that rare opportunity now.

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