Waiguru calls on Parliament to increase Uwezo fund

What you need to know:

  • The CS noted that the repayment rate in Nyeri is a commendable 95 per cent which shows that the women within the region borrow the funds and faithfully repay the same.
  • Out of the amount disbursed, Sh614.8 million has been advanced to 13,341 group projects while Sh66.1 million has been disbursed to 2,645 individual enterprises at the constituency level.
  • Ms Waiguru said youth who win government tenders have access to bid bonds and LPO financing up to Sh20 million, and Sh200 million revolving fund has been allocated for this purpose.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru is calling upon Members of Parliament to consider increasing the Uwezo Fund kitty in the next financial year.

Speaking at Wamagana in Tetu sub-county, Nyeri over the weekend during a cheque issuance ceremony to beneficiaries of affirmative funds, Ms Waiguru said this has been necessitated by the need to have more youths and women benefit from the kitty.

“We need at least another Sh6 billion added into the kitty so that we can be able to reach more beneficiaries,” said Ms Waiguru.

The Devolution CS said Uwezo fund has so far disbursed Sh5.3 billion to 289 constituencies with only one, Kitui Rural constituency, which is awaiting gazzettement.

“260 constituencies have so far issued cheques to their respective beneficiary groups and I remain confident the other constituencies will be following suit in the coming days. In Tetu constituency, the fund will disburse about Sh15.5 million to 660 beneficiaries,” she said.

The CS said Uwezo fund currently is undertaking training for Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee Members from across the country on the skills and competencies they require to effectively administer Uwezo funds at the constituency level.

Ms Waiguru said the training programme is being conducted for all constituencies in two training venues; namely, Tom Mboya Labour College- Kisumu, and Kenyatta University in Nairobi, where participants are being trained in cluster of counties for each training session.

On Women Enterprise Fund, Ms Waiguru said since its inception, the fund has impacted more than 1,017 million beneficiaries with the number steadily growing each month.

The women have also been provided with additional services by the fund as per its mandates.

These services include capacity building, infrastructure support, marketing and provision of linkages.

REPAYMENT RATE

In Nyeri County, the fund has impacted 31,020 women by providing funds to them amounting to Sh173 million.

The CS noted that the repayment rate in Nyeri is a commendable 95 per cent which shows that the women within the region borrow the funds and faithfully repay the same.

“It is important to note that women within the region have also graduated within the fund’s cycles moving steadily from the lowest cycle of Sh100,000 to the third tranche of Sh350,000.

Two groups from Tetu constituency are now receiving the third tranche of Sh350,000. These are Gatumbiro Kioneki women group and Mageria Kihoti women group,” said Ms Waiguru.

On youth fund, the CS said the government has disbursed Sh11.1 billion to 263,000 youth enterprises across the country.

Out of the amount disbursed, Sh614.8 million has been advanced to 13,341 group projects while Sh66.1 million has been disbursed to 2,645 individual enterprises at the constituency level.

In Nyeri County, the fund has disbursed a total of Sh261,603,605 to 1,004 youth groups. Out of these, Sh3,091,910 has been disbursed to 62 youth groups in Tetu constituency.

Countrywide, youth fund has supported 2,000 youth to market their products both locally and abroad and facilitated 14,500 to obtain employment abroad.

Ms Waiguru said youth who win government tenders have access to bid bonds and LPO financing up to Sh20 million, and Sh200 million revolving fund has been allocated for this purpose.

The fund is providing a film loan to provide working capital for youth in film making business. The loan is for pre-production, production and post-production.

Applicants may borrow from Sh500,000 to Sh25 million. The fund has also introduced a mentorship programme to provide a platform for exchange of ideas between young people and volunteer mentors.