The Ministry of Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has disbursed KSh13.6 million under the Uwezo Fund and KSh10.2 million from the Youth Development Fund to women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lugari constituency.
Presiding over the issuance of cheques at Chevaywa Vocational and Training Centre, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly and enhance accountability. He pledged continued government support for more than 22 million Kenyans engaged in small enterprises, noting that MSMEs remain critical drivers of economic growth.
Oparanya emphasised that wealth creation is achieved through business, which is why the government has rolled out programmes to provide capital to millions of people to improve living standards and boost the economy. He encouraged Kenyans to form self‑help groups and register with the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) to qualify for loans under the Uwezo Fund and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
The CS highlighted the Nyota sensitisation programme recently launched in Mumias, targeting youth aged 18 to 29 years. He announced that participants had received KSh25,000 each to help them progress with their businesses, urging more young people to embrace the initiative.
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Uwezo Fund CEO Peter Leng’apiani commended committee members and CS Oparanya for their commitment to ensuring the timely disbursement of funds to women and youth groups. He encouraged residents of Lugari to register in self‑help groups to benefit from financial inclusion actively. “When money is disbursed to the public, there is the multiplying factor, and through business the limit grows up,” he said, advising beneficiaries to invest wisely and repay loans promptly.
Hustler Fund CEO Henry Tanui acknowledged challenges in raising borrowing limits for customers but assured that measures are being put in place to address the issue. He explained that the Hustler Fund charges an interest rate of 8 percent, translating to KSh3 for every KSh1,000 borrowed. Tanui urged youth to embrace the facility, noting that KSh200,000 had already been issued to 62,246 Kenyans in Lugari constituency. He stressed the importance of timely repayment to improve credit ratings and enable banks to extend further loans.
One of the beneficiaries, Ebby Andika from Lumakanda ward, expressed gratitude for the Hustler Fund, saying it had supported her chicken‑rearing project. She described the initiative as a lifeline for small entrepreneurs seeking to expand their ventures.
By Hilda Atika
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