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HELLEN KABUTHA: WEATHERING THE STORMS in KENYA

Hellen Kabutha runs a fishing enterprise in the village of Malindi, in Kenya, which she started with her husband, John. Kabutha joined Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) in 2002, through her Tujengane Women’s Group. An affiliate of Women's World Banking, KWFT provides small business loans to nearly 100,000 women entrepreneurs operating in the formal and informal sectors. Initially, Kabutha borrowed 20,000 Kenya Shillings (Sh), or USD 300, pumping the money directly into the fishing business.

Beginning in 2003, however, Kabutha suffered a series of unexpected hardships. One of her fishing crews stole Sh 20,000 (USD 300). The following year one of her boats capsized in the Indian Ocean, resulting in the tragic deaths of three crew men. Finally, in 2005, she suffered the sad loss of her husband. Due to these extraordinary difficulties, Kabutha found herself unable to meet repayments on her loan of Sh 200,000 (USD 3,005) and asked KWFT for a grace period. The Trust agreed, and eventually Kabutha was able to repay the loan in nine months.

Now a widowed mother of three, Kabutha has managed to put her misfortunes behind her and kept the family business running profitably. She has educated her children through the proceeds of the fishing business. “All my children have gone through private schools as I wanted the best education for them. One is at university, the other in college and the last born is in the Third Form”, she says.

On completing her current Sh 500,000 (USD 7,513) KWFT loan, Kabutha intends to build a Sh 1 million (USD 15,026) cold room. She is also considering exploring overseas markets. “Someone has approached me with a proposal to export fish to Switzerland”, she says. “It is a good opportunity so I must be ready for the investment”, she says.