POLICY BRIEF > The Journey of Shona in Kenya / October 2024 The labor market situation for the Shona community deteriorated sharply during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employment rates plummeted from 73 percent to just 21 percent, while the share of unemployed individuals actively seeking work surged from 4 percent to 20 percent. During this period, food insecurity was widespread among Shona households, and access to external support was minimal. Although employment levels began to recover a year later, they remained below pre-pandemic levels, underscoring the prolonged adverse impact of the pandemic on this already vulnerable community. [9] Percent of population Figure 1: Labor force status after the COVID-19 outbreak (18-64 years) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% May-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Nov Jan-Mar Apr-Jun May-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Nov Jan-Mar Apr-Jun '20 '20 '20 '21 '21 '20 '20 '20 '21 '21 Urban Nationals Employed Shona Unemployed Source: Kenya COVID-19 Rapid Response Phone Surveys (RRPS) [9] Two rounds of household surveys taking place over five years before and after the transition of the Shona in Kenya from statelessness to citizenship help us to understand this community – and present one of the first socioeconomic pictures of the impact of citizenship on the welfare of stateless persons. Between 2019 and 2024, the median age of Shona household members remained unchanged at 18 years, underscoring a predominantly youth demographic profile. Gender distribution is even, showing only a marginal change, with the female population increasing slightly from 49 percent to 50 percent. Average household size has risen modestly from 4.9 to 5.4 members, which may reflect greater household consolidation or socio-economic stability following their naturalization. The most notable shift is the significant reduction in the proportion of female-headed households, dropping from 33 percent to 21 percent. The literacy rate has remained constant at 93 percent, reflecting sustained access to education. Overall, the Shona community's demographic profile suggests stability and gradual socioeconomic integration following their acquisition of citizenship. Table 1: Demographic characteristics of Shona community in Kenya. 2019 2024 18 18 49% 50% 4.9 5.4 Female headed households 33% 21% Literacy rate (can read and write in any language, aged 15+) 93% 93% Median age (in years) Gender (Female, in percent) Mean household size Source: 2019 Shona socioeconomic survey[8] and the authors’ calculation of 2024 survey data. www.unhcr.org 4