Gendered Socioeconomic Outcomes of the Covid-19 Pandemic Disease Burden on the Refugee Households in Turkana County, Kenya

Existing literature has highlighted the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on displaced populations, yet there is limited understanding of how these effects are gendered, especially in protracted refugee settings in the Global South. While women’s heightened vulnerabilities during crises are acknowledged, few studies have explored how pandemic-related disruptions have reshaped gender dynamics, decision-making, and economic resilience in refugee households. This study investigates the gendered social and economic outcomes of COVID-19 among refugee communities in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya. Kakuma’s demographic diversity and scale make it a valuable site for examining policy and community responses. The research focused on four objectives: assessing the impact of COVID-19 policies on gender relations; evaluating gender-specific effects of interventions by the Turkana County government; exploring changes in household decision-making; and identifying gender-responsive strategies for resilience. Guided by the Capacities and Vulnerabilities Framework (Anderson & Woodrow, 1989), the study employed a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with purposively sampled participants. Thematic analysis was used to interpret findings, with ethical principles upheld throughout. Results showed that the pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities. Women faced increased unpaid care work and reduced access to income-generating activities, while men experienced psychological stress due to job loss and shifting household roles. Policy responses lacked gender sensitivity, limiting their effectiveness. The study underscores the need for gender-responsive interventions to address long-term pandemic effects in refugee contexts. Key recommendations include promoting women’s economic empowerment, safeguarding girls’ education, enhancing mental health services, fostering inclusive governance, and strengthening community-driven resilience strategies.