Alumni Study Report
About the study
A cross-sectional evaluation of economic outcomes and well-being across five alumni cohorts — tracking 452 graduates from deep vulnerability to durable, measurable change.
Key numbers
452
Alumni surveyed across 5 cohorts
98%
Now earning income (was 46% at baseline)
131.5%
Increase in average daily income
92%
Active savers at follow-up
94%
Businesses reported as thriving
×2
Average ripple effect on others
Income shift · Baseline vs. follow-up
Monthly earnings distribution across the sample
Zero earners
KES 1 – 15,000
KES 15,000 – 40,000
KES 40,000+
"
20 years of addiction, prison, no plan for the future — but one training changed all of that.
I am now one year sober, hold a certificate in counselling, running my own detergent business,
managing and saving my money. Emerging Leaders was life changing.
— 2023 Cohort Alumni
The alumni journey
1
Mindset activation — immediately after training
98% set goals. Concrete action begins straight away. The cognitive shift underpins everything that follows.
2
Financial behaviour change — months 1–3
Saving begins at a median of 2 months. 83% write budgets; 63% of those also review them regularly.
3
Economic entry — months 3–6
Entrepreneurship starts at a median of 3.5 months. 72% of self-employed alumni are operating by month six.
4
Income stabilisation — 6+ months
Income becomes structured and predictable. Dependency on family drops from 56% to just 10%.
5
Gradual differentiation and growth — years 1–4+
Skills, savings habits, and market engagement compound over time. Earlier cohorts show the strongest income gains.
Gender spotlight
Women
34% goal completion rate
83% review their budget
3 months median to employment
Save earlier, budget more consistently
Men
11% goal completion rate
51% review their budget
6 months median to employment
Strong starters, weaker follow-through
Livelihood stability
69%
Reached a stable foundation or are fully self-reliant
31%
Fully self-reliant (top stability tier)
54%
Stable but not yet mobile — saving, budgeting, reduced dependency
3%
Escape velocity — stable and strongly mobile. 75% from the 2021 cohort.
Cohort highlights
| Year | Strongest outcome | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Highest income & goal completion | 73% of KES 15k+ earners |
| 2022 | Strong start, mixed follow-through | Needs continued support |
| 2023 | Largest drop in dependency | 77% → 4% dependency rate |
| 2024 | Strongest self-employment growth | +34% self-employed — top entrepreneurial cohort |
| 2025 | Fastest to employment | 2 months median, still stabilising |