The Gap
More than 1/3 of people in East Africa are living on less than $1.90 U.S. per day.
Closing the Gap
Corruption
The Kenya government is one of the most corrupt in the world. Most businesses will have to pay bribes to obtain services & licenses from government offices.
Corruption:
The Kenya government is one of the most corrupt in the world and has become a leading cause of extreme poverty. The major areas of concern in regards to corruption are misappropriation of funds, public procurement, public services, land administration, and customs administration. According to a survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), a total of 66.2% of respondents cited bribery as the most prevalent form of corruption encountered when seeking services from public offices.*
Corruption impacts entrepreneurship and businesses in several ways. Many businesses and entrepreneurs in Kenya end up having to pay bribes to obtain services from government offices, obtain licenses to start their business, avoid fines and facilitate contracts or commercial transactions.*
Corruption is detrimental to long term sustainable development as it perpetuates inequality, increases wealth and asset gaps between rich and poor and reproduces conditions of underdevelopment and poverty.* Utilizing ethical business practices is essential to avoiding corruption in Kenya and building sustainable businesses that help increase economic development. Join us by becoming a G.A.P mentor to support Kenya!
Poverty
Around 35.5% of Kenya’s population is living below the poverty line, meaning more than 1/3 of the country is living on less than the U.S. $1.90 per day.
Poverty:
75% of Kenya relies on agriculture to make a living. Yet Kenya’s unpredictable weather and dry climate make it a very unstable living to rely on. Jobs outside the agriculture industry are rare, and the education required for such jobs is even rarer, especially for poor families. The lack of economic diversity, opportunity, and education along with rapid population growth are crippling for the average citizen.*
Around 35.5% of Kenya’s population is living below the poverty line. This means that more than one-third of the entire country is living on less than the U.S. $1.90 per day. Income of the middle and low-income earners has stagnated yet the cost of living continues to grow at a fast rate making it impossible for Kenyans to afford basic needs.* As the poor languish in poverty, the rich continue accumulating wealth.
Nonetheless, poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. It also reflects lack of opportunities and the capability to access important services like portable water, education, healthcare and sanitation.* According to UNICEF, only 59% of Kenyans have access to basic water services and only 29% have access to sanitary services (clean water, basic toilet, and good hygiene). More than 30% of Kenyans face food insecurity and poor nutrition.*
Ending poverty in Kenya begins by teaching Kenyans the skills to achieve sustainable development. Help Kenyans accomplish this goal by becoming a G.A.P Mentor!
Inequality
Kenya is highly ranked among the top countries in terms of inequality. Less than 0.1% of Kenya own more wealth than the bottom 99.9%.
Inequality:
Kenya is highly ranked among the top countries in the world in terms of inequality. Less than 0.1% of Kenya’s population (8,300 people) own more wealth than the bottom 99.9% (more than 44 million people).
Kenya is an agricultural economy with the sector providing full or partial income to about 75% of Kenyans. Therefore, wealth can arguably be dictated by ownership of arable land in Kenya.* Despite 96% of Kenya’s rural women population working on farms, only 6% of the women in Kenya hold a title to land.
Kenyan culture and traditions have also contributed towards widening the gap of economic inequality. Denying women inheritance and the right to education, relegating them to housewives, and restricting them from venturing into male-dominated industries has created a huge burden for them to improve their socio-economic status.
Investing in a talent-based education system is important in increasing economic mobility and productivity, and reducing inequality of opportunity. Support Kenyans in their fight for equality by becoming a G.A.P Mentor!
Education
Many Kenyans decide not to attend school to financially support their family. Those who do attend are eventually forced to drop out from financial instability.
Education:
The impact of poverty on education in East Africa remains one of the biggest challenges, combined with the lack of employment opportunities for school and university graduates. In Kenya, 95% of children attend primary school; however, “youth” (defined as the 15–35 age bracket, which represents 35% of the Kenyan population) have the highest rate of unemployment (67%). Kenya currently counts 22 million children and young people under the age of 18. Every year, over one million young people enter the labor market without any formal skills.
To provide additional financial support for their families, many Kenyans decide to go without education. Of those who do attend school, many are eventually forced to drop out due to financial instability. Only around 40% of children make it through primary school and are enrolled in secondary school.
Stakeholders should invest in education because there is a lot to be gained in terms of poverty alleviation (high productivity which leads to increased economic growth) since poverty is a challenge to education. As stated by Christine Gregoire, “Education can lift individuals out of poverty and into rewarding careers.” Invest in Kenya's education to alleviate poverty by becoming a G.A.P Mentor!
Kufunga Pengo is on a mission to close the poverty & resources gap for East Africans through business training & mentoring.
G.A.P Mentoring
Growth & Action Plan Mentors, or G.A.P Mentors support entrepreneurs, start-up organizations, or existing businesses in East Africa to propel their business endeavors forward. Mentors build meaningful connections in person or remote and help to develop stronger, more sustainable businesses. This is an empowering opportunity for you to share your knowledge and skills to make a powerful impact and break the cycle of poverty in East Africa.
Business Training
Business training is essential to increasing skill development and reducing inequality of opportunity in East Africa. Kenyan & other East African businesses are in need of training in the following areas: business planning, record keeping, financing, and process improvement. You do not need to have experience in a specific industry in order to be involved! Help businesses in East Africa avoid the business mistakes you may have made in the past and guide them towards the future of running a successful business.
Ethical Solutions
Kufunga Pengo is committed to developing ethical solutions to close the poverty gap in Kenya. 100% of donations are given directly to Kenyan entrepreneurs, start ups, and existing small businesses. To ensure Kufunga Pengo maintains its moral values, we are dedicated to thoroughly researching and understanding the needs of the Kenyan community, regularly auditing projects to ensure G.A.P Mentors are ethically meeting client goals, as well as actively seeking feedback to improve projects.
Why Kufunga Pengo
Unretirement
Embark on an adventure to East Africa! As an on-the-ground G.A.P Mentor, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself fully in a culture different from your own. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and return home energized, motivated and with a fresh perspective on life.
Build Sustainable Futures
Do you have past experience in business management, record keeping, or financing? Utilize your knowledge, and skills to teach others in need! Provide business owners in East Africa with the tools to become self-sufficient by becoming a G.A.P Mentor.
Embark on an Adventure
It’s never too late in life to make an impact in the world. Find your new purpose in retirement by creating valuable experiences with the individuals you mentor. Join us in breaking the cycles of poverty and creating opportunities for East African businesses by becoming a remote or in-person mentor.
Support East Africa
East Africa is best known for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Despite East Africa's geographical beauty, over ⅓ of its population continues to live below the poverty line. Support East Africa and create lasting change for the country you know and love by donating today!
Meet Lillian
Perfume Kiosk Business Owner
“[Kufunga Pengo] gave me the opportunity to open up my own perfume business. It was my dream to own a perfume shop and him coming along made it happen sooner. He gave me a manual to help me know how to plan for a business. From our reviews he constantly challenges me to come up with ways of improving the business by conducting customer surveys, strategic marketing and business expansion ideas.”