By John Majau
Meru leaders have called on women and youth in the county to enroll in organized and registered groups before applying for government and donor funding.
Meru County governor Kiraitu Murungi and Public Service, Gender and Youth Cabinet Secretary Prof Margaret Kobia, said only women and youth who are in such groups will be given priority during the disbursement of the Uwezo, Women and Youth Enterprise funds which were released recently by the national government.
They advised county residents to embrace the culture of saving money to raise enough capital to establish income generating projects to ensure they are economically and socially empowered.
“This will ensure the county will have strong and prosperous women and youth in business,” said Murungi.
They were speaking at Nkubu Methodist Church in South Imenti constituency. Prof Kobia issued Sh 6.7 million cheque to 40 women groups and eight Uwezo funded groups in the area.
Murungi said his government will give an additional Sh 10 million to the registered women and youth groups in the area to complement the national government efforts of making them financially stable.
He promised to work harmoniously with all the elected leaders in the entire county regardless of political affiliation in order to attain the set development goals.
Prof. Kobia challenged leaders from both the national and county governments to shun unnecessary divisions and politicking and instead embrace unity for the sake of developments.
She urged women and youth to apply for the loans as soon as possible because the government has enough funds to cater for their needs as long as they are registered.
