Informal Sector Workers’ Household Strategies for Securing Livelihoods During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Case of Mwembe Area in Kisii Municipality.

Abstract

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant influence on the economy and society. Workers in the informal sector, who make up a sizable share of the labor force worldwide, were especially susceptible to the economic shocks caused by the pandemic. Among other concerns, workers in the informal sector often faced abrupt income loss and lacked access to official social safety nets. They created a variety of adaptive measures in response to lessen the negative impact on their household's means of subsistence. The informal sector workers in the Mwembe district of Kisii County were the focus of this study, which delved into understanding how workers and their households safeguarded their livelihoods in the wake of COVID-19. Using a descriptive study design, the research looked into how the measures applied affected people's means of subsistence. The interplay of various activities and strategies for mitigating the negative consequences of the pandemic was also investigated using the sustainable livelihood approach. To meet the study's objectives, the research determined the socioeconomic traits of households headed by informal workers, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their means of subsistence, and the alterations brought about by the coping mechanisms. The study area is mainly dominated by informal workers engaged in micro-trading activities and metal and woodwork representing 56.7 and 30 percent. Many businesses operated on sole proprietorship cutting down on the costs of operation. Most informal workers lost their jobs while those with businesses, 30.2 percent shut down and 45.3 percent operated irregularly. The majority of households were unable to meet their most basic needs. While literature documents support by the governments both national and local to cushion livelihoods, these were evidently not at the disposal of informal sector workers. Findings revealed that most informal workers largely borrowed from friends and relatives, and from informal social networks to support their livelihoods. Consequently, informal sector workers were not able to save and invest their earnings. This study underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting informal sector workers in developing and implementing their strategies for economic resilience. It highlights the need for policy interventions aimed at strengthening social protection, expanding financial inclusion, and fostering opportunities for formalization of the informal sector, to enhance the long-term livelihood security of this vulnerable population.