Women groups, People with Disabilities (PWDs) and youth groups in Athi River, Machakos County, have received Sh300, 000 from the county government to help them expand their businesses and improve their living conditions.
While issuing the cheques to the beneficiaries at Mavoko Chiefs office in Athi River, Machakos Women Representative, Joyce Kamene said that the cash was given to encourage value addition in the group’s businesses.
“I have today issued a total of Sh300 000 to women groups, PWDs and youth groups to elevate their businesses through value addition,” said Kamene.
Kamene explained that the funds will also be used to support the inclusion of business tents and chairs in order to improve proper service delivery within Machakos County.
“The funds will also be used for the tent and chair project, which will see new tents and 200 plastic chairs purchased in order to boost capacity for successful service delivery in Machakos,” Kamene noted.
Kamene cautioned every group that benefits from the empowerment money to make sure that the funds are appropriately allocated and utilized to start businesses, so that women may improve their economic growth.
“My main concern is for groups that do not properly account for the funding they get from the government. I urge them to guarantee that the funds be utilized to start enterprises so that women and youth may participate in economic growth and acquire finances to improve their livelihoods,” urged Kamene.
She emphasized that the Machakos County government has been in the forefront of overseeing PWD funds to ensure that they are appropriately handled to meet their financial demands.
“As the Machakos county government leaders, we have also been in the forefront of speaking with PWDs and ensuring that the money they get from the government are put to good use,” Kamene said.
Kamene added that they have identified several schools in each ward in Machakos County and have distributed sanitary pads to the girls who have had difficulty obtaining them in order to facilitate proper learning.
She said that most girls were misled into early sexual activities by men who promised to purchase them sanitary pads, resulting in an early pregnancy crisis during the peak of Covid 19.
“We identified several schools in each ward in Machakos County, including Kwamang’eli Primary School, Athi River Secondary School and Empakasi Girls Secondary School in Mavoko, and donated sanitary towels to the girls to help them study in a more suitable environment,” added Kamene.
By Conceptah Isanya and Anne Kangero
