From Sh50,000 to 13 Machines: A Refugee Builds a Tailoring Empire in Kakuma

Mubalama Adelle turned Sh50,000 in savings into a tailoring company that now runs 13 industrial sewing machines, employs about 28 people, and trains 27 students in Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Adelle, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrived at the camp in Turkana County in 2019. She had ten children to feed and few prospects. Food rations were often insufficient. Water was sometimes scarce, and she paid out of pocket to buy it. Casual jobs were hard to find because she lacked social connections in the camp.

How did a pandemic change her trajectory?

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Adelle was selected for a vocational training programme. She was among roughly 300 refugee women trained at Don Bosco Technical Institute, a Catholic Church-led institution. She chose tailoring, a craft she had long wanted to pursue. For two years she worked at the institute, producing face masks to meet pandemic demand.

In 2023 she launched her own business. Her startup capital: Sh50,000 in savings. That bought one sewing machine and rent on a small room. Within six months, orders grew enough to hire an assistant. Over three years, the equipment count rose from one machine to 13.

Her product range now includes:

• Dresses and men's clothing
• School uniforms
• Bed sheets and pillows
• Hats and laptop bags

She sells in the local market, in Nairobi, and through exports to buyers abroad. Her company, Peace House Innovations Limited, emphasizes custom work tailored to individual customer designs.

What is holding the business back?

The constraints are capital and purchasing power. Adelle recently secured a Sh1.4 million loan from a local bank, but she says the amount falls short and requires monthly repayments of Sh100,000.

"Our production capacity has grown significantly, but the market has not grown at the same pace, so we end up being stuck with a lot of our ready products," she said. "Lack of funds has also impeded my plans to open a shop in Nairobi and Kitale, which can help in opening more markets for us."

She points to high poverty levels in the camp, which weaken customers' ability to pay, plus rising tailoring supply costs and expensive electricity bills that cut into profits. A typical month generates at least Sh70,000, with higher earnings in profitable periods.

To widen her customer base, Adelle has turned to digital marketing. With help from her husband, she posts products on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, attracting local and international buyers. She is also pursuing exhibition opportunities — she has never attended one and usually learns of them through social media. Her long-term plans include a physical outlet in Nairobi and branches in Lokichogio and Kitale, once funding allows. Being a registered refugee does not bar her from opening businesses.

Why did she open a computer college?

Adelle has added a second venture: a computer college teaching basic skills to camp residents. It currently enrolls 64 students, and demand exceeds capacity.

"I can't handle the number of young people who are coming here to ask for a slot in the computer college. Many of them want to get that skill, which explains why we are considering expanding the college," she said.

Her husband, Jean-Marie Banywesize, joined her in Kenya rather than seeking other employment.

"We work together to develop ideas and identify innovative approaches that can help us expand the business. I believe in her vision and want to see her achieve her goals, which is why I am committed to supporting her," Banywesize told the Nation. "As the enterprise grows, we will also be able to employ more refugees who urgently need income to provide for their families."

Who is backing refugee women in Kakuma?

Adelle is a beneficiary of the Women's Leadership, Access, Empowerment and Protection (LEAP) project, implemented by UN Women with funding from the Government of Japan. The project operates in Kakuma Refugee Camp and the Kalobeyei settlement, building women's technical and livelihood skills.

UN Women Kenya Country Representative Antonia Sodonon said the investment is producing results: "Investing in women and girls in refugee and host communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei is delivering tangible results, with beneficiaries transforming their livelihoods and taking on greater roles in their communities. Many are emerging as entrepreneurs, employers, community leaders and mentors, helping drive positive change and foster stronger ties between refugee and host communities."

She also thanked the Government of Japan for its financial support, which has enabled women, girls and young people to access economic empowerment, leadership and protection opportunities.

Does her school produce independent earners?

One graduate proves the model. James Hachur trained at Adelle's tailoring school, bought a sewing machine, and opened his own shop.

"The training enabled me to establish a small business where I can earn money daily. The income I generate helps me provide for my family and cover some of my personal expenses," Hachur said. He earns between Sh300 and Sh500 a day.

How steep is the gender gap?

The odds Adelle beat are measurable. A gender assessment by the International Finance Corporation found only seven per cent of women in the camp engage in entrepreneurship, compared with 23 per cent of men. Most women-run businesses stay informal, largely because owners cannot access business information and formal financing.

Thomas Siele, manager of Kakuma Refugee Camp, said about 60 per cent of households in the camp are headed by women, many of whom carry the main burden of providing for their families.

Adelle's expansion plans now hinge on one variable: whether funding arrives before her Sh100,000 monthly repayments catch up with her growth.