Despite being a woman, abled differently, Elizabeth has made her mark as a notable entrepreneur who has defied the odds to achieve success. While she has had to face significant challenges, she has used her unique perspective and adaptive skills to not only survive but- also manage a thriving food store in the heart of Kakuma refugee camp.
Elizabeth was born in a small village in the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan in the 1980’s. At the time when the country was facing political instability, Lueth and her family were forcefully displaced to Kakuma as refugees in 1992. She would quickly learn to stand on her feet as her family slowly adapted to a new reality of life in a refugee camp.
In 1998 at the age of 18 she found herself brewing and selling traditional alcohol within the camp to support herself and her family. As a woman with a disability, she faced many obstacles in her personal and business life. However, rather than letting these challenges hold her back, she used them as motivation to succeed.
She ventured into the food business as a small trader selling sweets and refreshments in 2008 and has since grown her business into a notable grocery store that serves hundreds of her neighbors. “I wanted a different life; I wake up every day wanting to change my life. The other thing that drives me is that I want a better life than the people who I left in Sudan, this is a better life.” She says
Elizabeth’s journey with Inkomoko started in 2021 where she received business advisory training and later received a 100,000 Kenyan shilling ($900 USD) loan after completing the program. The skills strengthened her business know-how and sparked new ideas.
“Inkomoko came into my life just when I needed guidance the most. The training and loan I received has greatly helped boost the growth of my business beyond measure.” Elizabeth
Today, Elizabeth is a CEO in her own right in her business, a thriving food store that provides a variety of options to her community and neighbors. Her entrepreneurial spirit, her commitment to success and her ability to adapt to her disability is worth celebration.
She has developed unique strategies for managing her workload and has been able to use her disability as an asset rather than a liability. She takes a hands-on approach to mentoring fellow women in her community through her positive outlook and her see-no-huddle approach to navigating both business and personal life.
