The East African Community, Arid Lands and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza on Saturday, February 24, 2024 led a funds drive in aid of some 65 women groups from Kitui County.
The event took place at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) Kitui Regional Research Centre where the Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui was the chief guest at the function. The funds-raiser that raised KSh4,000,420 is for buying water tanks for the 65 women groups’ members. The event was attended by an estimated seven thousand women from across the county.
In her speech, Malonza disclosed that the 65 women groups have a total of about 52,000 members. And she assured the women the county that she is out to support them towards uplifting their living standards so that they prosper economically. The minister asked the women there who have not registered their groups to do so for them to benefit from the government and non-governmental organisations among others. She added that the savings through the self-help groups and cooperatives have prospered economically many people in the country and the wider world. And she therefore called upon women to involve themselves a lot in the savings undertakings for their own good.
Malonza who hails from Mutha Division of Mutomo Sub- county in the county assured the women that she will be assisting them to acquire the savings to help them engage in economic ventures for income generation. She said Government is constructing the 50 kilometres High Grand Falls Multi-purpose Dam in the Mwingi region.
“This High Grand Falls Multi-purpose Dam is the largest dam in Africa. It stretches from the Tana River County up to the Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties,” she added. “The State has also given us a total of 11 social dams in the county KSh250 million has been released for the completion of the stalled Umaa Dam in the county. The 250 million shillings is part of the 1.9 billion shillings required for the completion work of the Umaa Dam.”
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She added that a total of KSh461 million for the roads construction in the county has been released in our county and added that Thwake Mega Dam construction is nearing completion. The Thwake Dam will serve three counties namely Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.
And in his speech, CS Chelugui highly lauded Malonza for her excellent leadership saying: “I respect you a lot Peninna Malonza as my colleague. The work you are doing is very important. We the Government want to do the work of helping the people and assisting the Kenyans.
The Anzauni Clan National Patron Augustus Kyalo Muli, the Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto and former Kitui Rural Constituency Member of Parliament Charles Mutisya Nyamai were also present.
President William Ruto gave KSh2 million, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (KSh1 million), Prime Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi (KSh200,000), Malonza (KSh300,000), Chelugui (KSh100,000), Muli (KSh50,000) and the County Commissioner (KSh20,000) among other contributors.
By Boniface Muli
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