Gendered Socioeconomic and Health Effects of COVID-19 in Informal Settlements in Kenya

n March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus a pandemic. The pandemic was projected to leave long-lasting economic and social impacts due to disruptions of economic activities across the globe and within countries. The losses would stem from direct and indirect effects of illness and also measures adopted by governments to contain the spread of the pandemic. Africa experienced lower than expected transmissions of the virus. However, countries within the region experienced challenges related to mitigation and containment efforts. The challenges are mostly due to the recurring nature of the disease, generally referred to as waves. The Kenyan Government implemented numerous containment measures towards the spread of the pandemic. The measures required regular handwashing with soap, use of face masks in public places; use of alcohol-based sanitizers; social distancing; ban on public/social gatherings; closure of education and training institutions; restriction of movements through curfews and lockdowns; ban on international travels; closure of some businesses such as bars, restaurants, and nightclubs; and encouraging of firms to adopt remote working approach except for essential services. In many instances, the responses by the government disrupted economic activities, leading to loss of employment, income, and livelihoods. Many businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the informal economy were closed down. Businesses that continued to operate did so but at below capacity. Heightened vulnerabilities for women were expected because their livelihoods are mainly in informal activities that require continuous daily operations. In 2020, women constituted only 36.8% of wage earners, and majority of them (68%) compared to men (39%) were in vulnerable employment. Further, women were reported to be more in sectors that highlight their traditional roles in the society where both earnings and productivity are low. Social norms also place disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women and adolescent girls. This burden is deemed to have worsened with prolonged closure of schools, workplaces, restriction of travel and other movements, which rendered majority of household members to stay indoors. The low representation of women in formal employment, high proportion of women in vulnerable employment and occupational segregation, which confines women to care-oriented sectors with low earnings and productivity, meant that women bore a disproportionate loss of income, employment and livelihoods due to the disruptive