- Twenty one Emgwen groups have received Sh2.8 million from Uwezo Fund to start and expand small businesses.
- The beneficiaries completed training in entrepreneurship, financial management, accountability and leadership.
- Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit urged the groups to invest the funds responsibly and build sustainable enterprises.
Twenty one community groups in Emgwen Constituency have received Ksh2.8 million from the Uwezo Fund to establish and expand small businesses, increase household incomes and create sustainable jobs.
The groups, drawn from the constituency’s four wards, received the funds on August 12 after completing a three-day entrepreneurship training programme covering financial management, group leadership, accountability and sustainable investment.
The training was organised by the Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee (CUFMC), in partnership with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (MSEA) and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF).
Fourteen groups received Uwezo Fund financing for the first time, with each getting between Ksh50,000 and Ksh100,000. Seven other groups were repeat beneficiaries, having demonstrated progress in their existing businesses.
Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit said the financing was meant to help residents build sustainable enterprises and reduce dependence on formal employment. He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly and invest in viable businesses capable of generating regular income.
“The money should be used for the purpose for which it was given and invested in projects that can generate income for the members,” he said.
Lelmengit said the three-day training was essential because it equipped beneficiaries with practical skills to manage their businesses, make informed investment decisions and utilise the funds effectively.
He advised repeat beneficiaries to use the additional financing to expand their existing enterprises and increase their earnings, while first-time beneficiaries should focus on establishing strong foundations for their businesses.
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The MP also urged the groups to maintain proper financial records, operate transparently and work collectively to keep their enterprises sustainable. He said organised community groups provide an important avenue for young people, women and persons with disabilities to participate in economic activities and improve their livelihoods.
The sessions focused on entrepreneurship, financial management, accountability and group leadership. Participants were also trained in business planning, investment decisions and teamwork.
Lelmengit said collaboration between CUFMC, MSEA and YEDF would strengthen both the financial and technical support available to community enterprises. He noted that affordable financing alone was not enough to guarantee successful businesses, because beneficiaries also needed the right skills and knowledge to manage their investments.
The groups are expected to invest the funds in income-generating activities contained in their approved project proposals. According to Lelmengit, the initiative seeks to strengthen the economic capacity of beneficiaries, improve household incomes and promote financial independence.
He cautioned the groups against treating the funds as handouts, saying the programme was designed to help residents build enterprises capable of growing, creating employment and contributing to the local economy. The MP called on beneficiaries to remain accountable and invest in productive ventures that can generate sustainable returns for their members.
By Bernard Magada
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