Driving Rickshaws is how Sierra Leonean Women Make Ends Meet
An increasing number of women are using the informal economy to make ends meet because official employment is still hard to come by in the nation. Driver Alimatu Kamara explained, “I started riding a kekeh because I graduated from college but haven’t been able to find a job.”
Kekeh driving is becoming more popular among women in Freetown, Sierra Leone, who are looking for fresh alternatives in a difficult labor environment. With youth underemployment and unemployment rates ranging from 60% to 70%, the informal economy has emerged as a crucial lifeline.
In addition to hiring women, the kekeh has become the most practical public transportation option, connecting underserved neighborhoods with crowded major centers. Women are actively involved in the job market in the nation, according to Marfoh Mariama Samai, a Women and Youth Advocate at Plan International.
However, they frequently work in industries with very little earning potential, even when compared to rickshaw driving. According to the nation’s labor ministry, women only make a small portion of what males do, and their involvement in the official job market is less than 30%.
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