More than 600 taxi operators, bodaboda and tuktuk operators from Kilifi North have received grant worth Ksh3.5 million National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to aid them in purchasing washing machines and water tanks in order to improve their businesses.
The project which is championed by Kilifi Women Representative Getrude Mbeyu seeks to empower the youth who are facing major financial constraints due to high unemployment rate.
Speaking at the Karisa Maitha Grounds, Mbeyu said that the 30 groups will get the washing machines and water tanks, a move which will create employment opportunities and generate income.
“We want these youth to start their own income generating activities and the NGAAF grants is their money which they are supposed to invest wisely to empower themselves,” she said.
“I appeal to youth, women and people living with disability to register themselves in groups and apply for these funds because that is the only sure way to help empower them in the country, that has a huge unemployment problem,” she added.
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Jonathan Kalume, the chairman of the Kilifi TukTuk Operators said that the washing machines will pull back many operators into business adding that many of them had been layed off after some owners of the tuktuks halted their investments due to the high cost of living.
“We have many of our colleagues who went jobless after some tuktuk owners pulled their tuktuks out of business due to the high cost of living. But with the car washing machines, some of those who are jobless will get fresh opportunities in our car washing businesses,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Johnson Chivatsi, the chairman of the Kilifi- Matanomane Traxi Drivers Group with 20 members, which also received Ksh200, 000 grant on top of the car washing machines and water tank, said that they will now be washing their vehicles at half the market prices in their own car wash business.
By Nehemiah Okwembah
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