The Cost of a Blackout
For many women in Faza, fish is not just a commodity. It is economic freedom. It is dignity. It is hope.
Through fish trading, women in this community pay school fees, put food on the table, build homes, and support their families. It empowers them, giving them a voice and a place in the local economy. From the early morning hustle at the landing sites to the hot afternoon markets, these women labour with strength and determination.
“Hii biashara imenisaidia kulea watoto wangu wanne. Lakini sasa, hasara ni nyingi. Huku kwetu Kuna shida ya stima. Stima ikikatika, samaki wanaoza,” said one trader during our visit. (This business has helped me raise my four children. But now, losses are too many. When electricity goes out, the fish rots.)
What does a power cut mean to most people? Perhaps a pause in entertainment or a slow internet connection. But to these women who depend on freezers to preserve fish, a power outage is a devastating blow. Hours without electricity in this coastal heat mean an entire stock of fish, sometimes worth thousands of shillings, can go bad.
There is no compensation, no insurance, no warning. Just the crushing realisation that today’s work, and tomorrow’s income, has melted into nothing. Unfortunately, this is not a one-time event. Frequent power outages in Faza are a chronic issue. Many women reported regularly throwing away large quantities of fish, which affected not just their business but also their mental well-being and sense of security.
In a community already vulnerable to climate shocks, rising temperatures, unpredictable fish stocks, and saline water intrusion, this is one more threat stacking the odds against local women.
And yet, within every crisis lies an opportunity. When we discussed possible solutions with the women, one thing became clear: value addition can be a game-changer. By not relying solely on freezers or selling raw fish, traders can diversify their income and build more resilient businesses.
Here are some ways fish can be preserved and value-added, even with minimal electricity:
- Drying and Smoking – Traditional fish drying or using improved solar dryers can preserve fish without electricity.
- Salting and Fermentation – These traditional preservation methods are low-cost and effective.
- Fish Cakes, Samosas, and Patties – Processing fish into ready-to-eat products opens up new markets.
- Packaging and Branding – Basic packaging and branded labels increase shelf life and appeal.
- Fish Oil and Fertiliser – Leftover fish parts can be turned into oil or organic fertiliser.
By training women in these techniques and linking them to new markets, we move from survival to sustainability. Still, let us be clear, value addition is not an excuse to ignore the deeper problem. Access to stable electricity is not a luxury; it is a right.
We call upon county authorities, national agencies, and energy providers to urgently address the electricity crisis in Faza and other rural communities. Investment in reliable, off-grid solar-powered cold storage solutions could also offer a long-term fix, aligning clean energy with women’s empowerment and climate resilience.
The Building Climate Futures in Lamu project exists to amplify voices like those we heard in Faza. These stories show us that climate threats are not always about storms and droughts. Sometimes, they come as flickering bulbs, humming generators, and broken freezers.
Faza deserves better.
