Government programmes have helped youth, women and persons with disabilities

Through creation of new financing programmes as well as expansion of existing ones, training in entrepreneurship, and creation of more business opportunities, the government is transforming the lives of young people.

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that 30 per cent of all government procurement, at all levels, be reserved for the youth, women and persons with disabilities. This directive gave birth to the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities initiative, which seeks to economically emancipate these groups by handing them opportunities to do business. 

The programme has registered over 60,000 entrepreneurs across the country. Some 17 per cent of these managed to get government contracts worth Sh23.2 billion in the programme’s first year.

The government has expanded the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, enabling it to issue bonds worth Sh80 million as well as finance local purchase orders to the tune of Sh163.5 million. The fund has disbursed Sh4.77 billion to youth enterprises, creating employment for 478,520 people.

REVOLVING FUND

President Kenyatta directed that the Sh6 billion that had been reserved for a presidential election runoff in 2013 be redirected towards the establishment of a revolving fund from which youth and female entrepreneurs could get business loans. This is what became the Uwezo Fund.

Launched in September, 2013, Uwezo has so far disbursed Sh5.124 billion to 846,949 individuals and over 15,000 youth groups countrywide. The money has catalysed innovation, promoted the establishment of industries, created employment, and contributed significantly to the economy.

To ensure prudent management of funds, the capacity of the beneficiaries of both the Youth and Uwezo funds to start and manage small enterprises has been enhanced through business literacy training.

All the 15,871 youth beneficiaries of Uwezo Fund have undergone compulsory entrepreneurship training before receiving their cash.

Entrepreneurship training has also been delivered to 77,494 beneficiaries of the Youth Fund to prepare them for the uptake of business loans. This has enabled young Kenyans to venture into business and repay their loans.

To further empower the youth and put income in their hands, the government initiated the National Youth Service (NYS) Restructuring Programme that has continued to transform the now revitalised institution.

ROLLED OUT

Since its relaunch in 2013, the NYS has rolled out an elaborate programme that is designed to co-opt hundreds of young men and women in development projects as they earn their keep. Through its 2014 Youth Empowerment Programme premised on a five-point vision, NYS has engaged 76,000 young Kenyans for Sh450 a day.

The culture of saving has been inculcated in the youth participating in the NYS programme. Through the creation of the bankable institutions and saving practices initiative, the youth are encouraged to save part of their earnings in saccos. These savings will come in handy in creating employment and establishing enterprises to generate additional income.

Through the initiative, 300 saccos have been created, with a collective saving pool of Sh1.3 billion. The saccos have expanded access to affordable financing for young men and women through grants and credit. The net effect has led to the generation of gainful self-employment for Kenyan youth, as captured in the 2015 Economic Survey Report.

I encourage youth, women, and persons with disabilities to continue engaging with the government and take advantage of the affirmative action funds at their disposal to transform their lives.

Sicily Kariuki is the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs. [email protected]