Already surviving on strained budgets, the announcement of the first case of coronavirus upended lives of individuals and families.
A job loss could hurl a middle class family into poverty and homelessness.
In May last year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said a bout of joblessness would sweep through Africa.
“With an estimated 55 per cent of the global population having no access to social protection, these losses will reverberate across societies, hitting education, human rights and, in the most severe cases, basic food security and nutrition,” the UNDP said.
Individuals usually acquire new survival skills when the revenue stream is not promising.
James Irush switched to culinary from cinematography
James Irush switched to culinary from cinematography.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation Media Group
When camera and creativity could not foot bills during the coronavirus times, James Irush ventured into the culinary field.
In his earlier days, Irush worked at his father’s butchery. That is where he learnt to prepare mutura. When the film industry got a beating as a result of the pandemic, the thought of harnessing that skill to complement the deficit was a sure saviour. His filming-skill gives him an edge in advertising the mutura venture.
“Filming is one thing I cannot let go. I’m using the two to complement each other,” he told the Saturday Nation.
“When my pregnant wife craved for soup and mutura last year, I prepared the delicacies.”
There were jitters and the uncertainty of attempting something new.
“I owe my success to the lovers of mutura. They keep me running,” he said.
Dorothy Kiprop, Graphics designer turned painter/visual artist.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Dorothy Kiprop, Graphics designer turned painter/visual artist
. Which then meant I would only have weekends to tend to my side hustle.”
Hellen Muhonja, teacher turned online merchant.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Hellen Muhonja, teacher turned online merchant
