With the rising level of the poverty index in Busia County, the Teso community has joined forces in Community Based Organizations through the 5K-1-Week Kiosk initiative which has taken bold steps to alleviate the issue of extreme poverty affecting the residents of Busia.
The CBO empowerment program led by Franklin Osang’ir, Julias Imalu, and Priest Steven Amatebo, has slowly continued to attract a large number of members based on the cost friendliness and life uplifting model.
Just launched two months ago, the project has already benefited eight members who have a booming business of their choice which ranges from fruit kiosks, food vendors among others.
“We thought of coming up with a soft approach to uplift members without them getting loans from shylocks. That is why every week we contribute Sh5 000 to set up a kiosk for one member,” noted Osang’ir.
Recognizing the pressing challenges faced by the members of the community, the leaders of the 5K-1-week kiosk have spearheaded initiatives that are friendly to members as they only need to contribute Sh100 every week for a new kiosk.
Projects which have emulated the Kenya Kwanza slogan ‘Kazi ni Kazi’ seek to capitalize on the produce at the border for value addition as there is a ready market mainly from truck drivers and town dwellers.
“Our aim is to empower locals by either setting up business for members without one or boosting stock for those who already have their kiosks in place,” Imalu said.
Beside the kiosk project, the union has also implemented the ‘Jenga Nyumba’ initiative, a housing fundraising program. This program targets those without a decent home in a rural setup.
According to Osang’ir, western region has resources; the only challenge they have is knowledge on utilizing the resources for their gain.
“Our community is grappling with extreme poverty, and we cannot wait for external interventions alone. We have taken matters into our own hands and launched these projects to uplift our members,” he stated.
Osang’ir added, “It’s not just about financial support. It’s about empowering our community members to become self-sufficient and break free from the cycle of poverty.”
The union is now appealing to both county and national governments to champion innovation and support ideas that advocate for community empowerment.
The impact of these community-led initiatives is already visible, as beneficiaries express their joy and gratitude.
Susan Etemesi, a resident of Onyunyuri, said “Thanks to the 5K CBO Union, I was able to establish a fish business which has significantly improved my family’s livelihood. This initiative is a game-changer for us.”
Another beneficiary used the support to open a store, highlighting the tangible economic impact of the projects.
The business community members in the CBO are now appealing to the county government to enact a law which protects them from rivals from Uganda who are enjoying privileges of common market for EAC member states yet don’t pay taxes directly to the government.
As the CBO continues to pioneer community-led solutions, it stands as a beacon of hope, proving that with collective determination and innovative approaches, communities can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
By Absalom Namwalo and Owen Mutai
