By Boniface Mulu
The chairman of Kitui Urban Jua Kali Artisans Association Reuben Daudi Kioko was returned to office together with his management committee officials unopposed during the association members elections held on November 17, 2022.
The Kitui County Enterprise Development Officer (CEDO), Mrs. Josephine Mukiira was the returning officer for the elections. Boniface Musembi Musyimi is the association’s vice chairman. The other management committee officials are Linda Syokau Kimoli (secretary), Benson Musyoki Mutua (treasurer) and Boniface Mating’e Katee (organizing secretary).
The Kenya jua kali artisans association conducts their elections after three years as per the country’s law.
In his speech after the elections, Kioko thanked the members for having returned him and his management to the office.
“What we are doing here today is very important for us as the jua kali artisans,” he said.
He assured his fellow jua kali artisans that he will continue serving them with efficacy and efficiently for their own benefit and for the benefit of Kitui County.
He also said a suitable leader is the one who respects the people, the law and the office. The chairman announced that currently their association has a total of 2,000 members. Kioko, a motor-vehicle mechanic by profession, has led the Kitui jua kali artisans since 2013.
The Kitui Urban Jua Kali Artisans Association was started in 1987. The association comprises of sixteen sub-sectors namely the mechanics, auto spares, leather work, body work, food work, gas welding and arc welding, motor-vehicle wiring, food processing, wood work, black smith works, carpentry and tailoring.
The Kenya jua kali artisans are under the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), a state corporation under the Kenya’s Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Ministry.
Mukiira thanked the members for conducting a peaceful election. She disclosed to the artisans that the East African countries, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda will be having a ten-day exhibition for the artisans beginning December 8 to December 18, 2022 at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Uganda. The exhibition will be officially opened on December 11, 2022.
