Jean Luke Shibomana: A Journey of Resilience and Hope

Jean Luke Shibomana’s journey to independence in Kenya is a story of perseverance and determination. He arrived in Kenya in 2007 and has since built a life for himself and his family. With two young daughters to care for, Jean Luke is the sole breadwinner in his household, managing to balance his business and family life with great effort.

Before he received training through an REI-funded program in tailoring, business management, and record-keeping, he was hawking fabric on the streets, struggling to make ends meet. Now he is running a small tailoring business. The shop he rents through a proxy, due to his lack of identification, has become his lifeline. Despite having to pay a small fee to the proxy, he has established a reliable income stream.

Jean Luke’s work involves crafting shirts from fabric he buys at 1,000 Ksh (¥1,200) per meter, with each meter yielding three shirts. He sells each shirt for 650 Ksh (¥800). His store rent is 5,500 Ksh (¥6,500) a month, and while his income varies, it covers all the essential needs for his family, including food, rent, and his children’s education. Jean Luke likens the pressure he feels as the breadwinner to “hungry birds waiting with their mouths open at home,” but he finds joy in being able to provide for them.

Word of mouth has brought in customers, helping his business grow. Though challenges remain, he is immensely grateful for the opportunities he has and cherishes the ability to occasionally treat his children to new clothes or shoes. For Jean Luke, his business is not just a source of income; it’s a path to a better life.