Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rachel Shebesh has applauded women in Kisumu County for being active in the application and repayment of government loans.
Shebesh was speaking in Kisumu, when she presided over the handing over ceremony of cheques worth Sh20.3 million from the Uwezo Fund, Youth Development Fund and Women Enterprise Fund to various beneficiaries in the County.
The CAS said the government is committed in supporting the youth, women and people living with disabilities to establish business startups to improve their livelihoods.
According to Shebesh, since its inception, the government has expanded the programme and has the potential to disburse Sh100 million worth of loans to residents of Kisumu every month.
“The government gives loans at zero interest rate and I urge every youth to take advantage of these loans in order to make progress in their lives,” she stated.
Shebesh further explained that the government helps to train those who apply for these loans, market their products through certification by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as well as do an intensive follow-up to make the business grow and become sustainable.
“Initially the loan intakes in Kisumu were low, but with time, the local women and youths have taken a step by taking these loans and repaying them on time. Currently, the women enterprise fund loan repayment is at 64 per cent while the Uwezo Fund is at 40 per cent,” she noted.
Nicholas Ochieng, a member of a Community Based Organization dubbed, KIKAYA said that their group has been able to acquire the loans twice and this is the third time they are receiving another loan.
“The first loan was Sh180,000 and we used it to start M-PESA services, a group savings and loans account. After repaying it fully, we were given a second of Sh 300,000 which we used to start a water supply outlet in the community under Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) and to give out school fees loans to members of the group,” he said.
Ochieng narrated that due to the Uwezo Fund loans, they now had a stable financial income and were looking forward to doing more projects as a group using the third loan.
He further urged Kisumu residents to take and repay government loans in order to better their living conditions.
By Becky Galyns
