Future of Work: In Images – Enock

MEET ENOCK

A car wash isn’t perhaps the most obvious place to run a cereals business, but siblings Enock and Everlyne are savvy enough to know that when it comes to maintaining a steady flow of customers, location is key.

Over the years, they have found and serviced a niche market among local hotels and restaurants, who make regular evening visits to buy produce. To ensure a diverse and stable supply chain and to satisfy returning customers, Enock sources cereals from up to 110 kilometres away.

“We decided to do the business at the car wash because of the population around here.”

Enock

At the core of their business is a fundamental principle; everyone needs to eat. Enock is clear that this is both about the commercial viability of his enterprise and a commitment to addressing a fundamental need within the community. As well as providing a livelihood for Enock, his nephew Victor actively contributes to the business and receives hands-on experience and skills. This business is at the heart of the wider family’s prosperity.

Enock recognises that at the heart of it all, everyone needs to eat. He has strategically invested in the purchase and sale of cereals, showcasing his entrepreneurial acumen.

“We decided to do the business at Car Wash because of the population around here.”

Recognising the potential in a street setup, Enock strategically positions his business to attract a steady flow of customers, addressing the challenge of minimal foot traffic in traditional markets.

Enock supported his sister, Everlyne Awiti, in the cereal business, ensuring not only her financial stability but also preventing hunger in her household.

Enock’s nephew, Victor Otieno, contributes to the family’s prosperity by actively participating in the cereal trade, gaining valuable experience and earning a livelihood.

Everlyne and Victor work together to prepare cereals for their customers.

Enock ensures a diverse and stable supply chain by locally sourcing cereals in Kisumu and, for a wider variety, traveling 113 kilometers to Busia, showcasing his commitment to quality products.

Enock has found a niche market among local hotels and restaurants, with their evening visits highlighting the quality and reliability of the cereals supplied.

The importance of the informal economy in Kenya cannot be overstated; it accounts for 24% of Kenya’s GDP and also employs five times more workers than the formal economy.

TRANSFORM has been working to understand the current realities and future possibilities for the millions of entrepreneurial Kenyans who hustle to sustain livelihoods across the informal economy (read more about the context of the work here).

Brink, Procol Africa, Busara, Laterite, Ideas Unplugged, and TRANSFORM have collaborated throughout to deliver this work, alongside hundreds of ecosystem actors and informal economy entrepreneurs.

These blogs offer an insight into the lives of some informal workers we spoke to over the course of the project, told through images.