The National Assembly Lady Spouses Association – Kenya (NALSA-K) in collaboration with Proudly Kenyan organizations has distributed water tanks to women’s groups in Jomvu constituency.
Thureya Badi, the spouse of Jomvu legislator Badi Twalib has said 38 groups benefitted from various economic empowerment projects.
Badi noted that through these tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres donated by Proudly Kenyan, the recipients will be able to start a water kiosk business to sell safe and consistent water at affordable prices to Jomvu residents, who have faced water problems over the years.
“NALSA in collaboration with Proudly Kenyan has come to Jomvu to empower our women. Water scarcity informed my decision to get water tanks to assist our women,” said Badi during a ceremony to hand over the tanks to beneficiaries at Amani Primary School, Mikindani ward.
“We have distributed the tanks equally in our three wards of Mkindani, Miritini and Jomvu Kuu. We have also donated1000 chairs, chicken feeds, while our youth in the garbage collection business will get carts,” she added, promising to do monitoring and evaluation afterwards to ensure success of the project.
NALSA was started in 2013 by spouses of the National Assembly legislators to support their husbands in the execution of their duties through women and youth empowerment.
On his part, the Jomvu MP hailed his wife for the noble initiative announcing that the second phase of the project will even be bigger, and more groups will benefit through partnerships with various organizations.
“We have ushered a new renaissance in Jomvu, we want our people to be independent and not sitting idly waiting for white collar jobs because not all people can be employed in formal offices. Some will be in such offices but others should embrace businesses,” said Twalib.
The MP urged the government to come up with youth employment strategies ‘because some youths cannot even marry due to lack of finances to cater for family needs.’
Twalib said all the groups that received water tanks will be supplied with clean water to kick start the water kiosks business.
He acknowledged the existence of water problem in his constituency saying the tanks will lessen suffering among the people.
He Hailed NALSA-K for establishing partnerships with organizations to roll out economic empowerment projects across constituencies.
The chairlady, Mwaliko group from Bangladesh slum Mary Samba said the water tanks will enhance their incomes, amidst the prevailing hard economic time.
“After one year, will have will have made greater strides in our water venture,” she added.
On her part, Hellen John from Jomvu Massive Group made up of young and single mothers said they will be able to take care of their families through profits made from the water business.
“Most of us endure hard times to put food on the table, the business will enable us to buy food and other essential needs,” she said.
Spouses of Mvita, Kaloleni, and Msambweni Members of Parliament attended the event that was also graced by the spouses of Mombasa Governor and the Deputy Governor.
By Sadik Hassan
