Breadwinners’ pain as dependency ratio goes up in tough economy

When 34-year-old Peter Mutinda left his rural home in Makueni for Nairobi in 2013, his goal was simple: find a job, build a life, and eventually support a small family of his own.

Mutinda is not alone. Across Kenya, breadwinners are bearing an increasingly heavy burden, supporting entire families amid a harsh economic climate.

As incomes stagnate or dwindle, the cost of living continues to soar, with spiral effects that are acutely felt by those shouldering the weight of their extended families.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the average breadwinner is now supporting up to 12 dependents, up from five a decade ago.

This sharp rise is attributed to job losses, inflation and increased poverty levels across the country.

"I have been blacklisted by a dozen digital lending platforms. I have too many obligations that my current pay cannot sustain. Apart from paying school fees for my four children, servicing a mortgage and repaying several loans for my past projects, I'm a sole provider for at least three other families. The situation is so dire that I have resorted to drinking to cool my nerves. Another big problem,'' he told the Star, fighting tears in his dark eyes.

Psychologist Caroline Otieno, who plies her trade in Savanna Nairobi, notes a rise in cases of depression and burnout among working-class Kenyans, many of them in their 20s and 30s.

“They are postponing children, skipping holidays and living hand-to-mouth while feeling trapped by cultural expectations,” she says.

"I have witnessed employees applying for an advance pay as early as the 10th day of the month, just a week after receiving a pay. Most reasons are tied to school fees, medical emergencies and an abrupt need to travel to sort out family matters. I noticed that one of our employees was supporting almost all of his extended family. That can be extremely unhealthy.''

He says this is not being mean. "I always advise them to bite what they can chew. If you die, those depending on you will still live. It is not being mean, it is being realistic."