FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — A growing number of Sierra Leonean women are turning to rickshaw driving to survive amid rampant unemployment, transforming the informal economy into a vital lifeline. As formal employment remains scarce in the country, these female kekeh (the local term for rickshaw) drivers are not only earning a living but also providing the most feasible alternative for public transport, effectively bridging the gap between congested city centers and underserved neighborhoods.
For many, the decision to enter this male-dominated trade is driven by necessity. One recent college graduate explained that her motivation to start driving a kekeh came after repeated, unsuccessful attempts to secure formal employment. “Sitting idle is not my goal,” she stated, emphasizing that the lack of job opportunities pushed her to venture into the kekeh driving business to sustain herself and remain productive.
Another female driver shared that her entry into the trade was inspired by observing others in her community. After initially seeing a neighbor successfully perform the job and asking her for guidance, she later witnessed another woman driving a kekeh at a funeral. Observing this, she realized she possessed the physical strength and height required for the work. “That gave me the courage to join the business,” she explained, noting that this realization made her determined to learn, ultimately leading her to pay for professional driving lessons.
The rise of female rickshaw drivers highlights broader systemic issues within the nation’s workforce. A local labor rights activist pointed out that while women are active participants in Sierra Leone’s labor market, they remain significantly less represented than men when it comes to acquiring new skill sets and entering emerging job markets.
This disparity is underscored by official data. Sierra Leone’s labor ministry reports that women’s participation in the formal labor market sits at less than 30 percent. Furthermore, the ministry notes that women in the country continue to earn only a fraction of what their male counterparts make, reinforcing the critical role the informal kekeh sector plays in female economic survival.
Despite these systemic hurdles, the kekeh has emerged as an empowering alternative. By taking the wheel, Sierra Leonean women are not only navigating the physical streets of their communities but also steering a path toward economic resilience and independence in the informal sector.
