Among measures put in place by the government of Kenya to attain the vision 2030, through enhancing access to finances for the youths, women and persons living with disabilities at the constituency level for businesses and enterprises development and funding of community driven development initiatives, 47 groups comprising of the youths and women in Tongaren constituency have benefited by 3.7 million interest free Uwezo fund to run their businesses and other beneficial projects.
Dickson Wamukota, youths director Bungoma County addressing the groups at Naitiri Friends church in Tongaren as he presented the 47 cheques he asked them to make good use of the funds by investing in their businesses and other beneficial projects that would generate income and reduce unemployment and poverty rate in the community. He advised the youths to come out in mass and make use of the funds by employing themselves among measures that would make them come out of poverty.
He further explained that the fund is aimed at realizing financial inclusivity among the youths, women and the people living with disabilities, by giving them interest free loans that would be a 24 months repayment period. However, the beneficiaries had earlier on undergone proper training on how best they would invest the money before the funds were disbursed.
His sentiments were supported by Senior Deputy County Commissioner Bungoma North Philip Koima who emphasized on the need for the beneficiaries investing the funds in beneficial projects and businesses that would generate more income and be able to repay the loans.
A huge percentage of locals in Tongaren are farmers, Koima highlighted the need of not only investing the funds in expanding their businesses but also come up with agricultural based projects like poultry farming, bee keeping, cattle rearing and cash crops like coffee planting and sugar cane among others.
Beneficiaries of the funds led by Jentrix Wanyonyi promised to carefully invest the funds in order to attain its objectives.
By Otindo Aggrey
