By John Majau
Nyambene Miraa Sacco has received Ksh 5M. from the County Government of Meru to lend out as loans to its more than 3800 members across Igembe and Tigania regions to improve their businesses.
According to the County deputy governor and Finance CEC Titus Ntuchiu, the move is meant to cushion Miraa farmers from adverse effects of closure of the Miraa market in Somalia and the current third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The County Government of Meru has this morning issued a cheque worthy Sh5 million to Nyambene Miraa Sacco which will be lent out as loans to its more than 3800 members across Igembe and Tigania regions. The money is meant to cushion Miraa farmers from adverse effects of closure of Miraa market in Somalia and the current third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
The County Government issued the cheque through the Meru Microfinance to Sacco officials who were led by Miraa Stakeholders Chairman, Mr. Moses Ntoachoro.
The Deputy Governor said they will dispatch officers from Meru Microfinance to Muriri, Mikinduri, Maua and Laare markets to educate members on financial literacy and discipline.
He said the team will also capacity build them in order to be able to access other financial facilities being offered by the County government including SME loans through the recently launched Meru County Post-COVID-19 Recovery Strategy for SMEs.
Ntuchiu reiterated that the County government is working closely with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the National Government through the Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and Enterprise Development to comprehensively address the Miraa market by seeking new markets in countries such as Djibouti and Mozambique among others.
He said they are also organizing the Meru County Miraa Conference where authorities such as KEBS, NACADA and others will be actively engaged by Miraa Stakeholders and the Government of Meru County to lift any restrictions and regulations which could be hindering research and development of Miraa products for export such as Miraa gum, Miraa wine and Miraa sweets among others.
The Meru Miraa Conference has been postponed due to the ongoing upsurge of the third wave of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
