Mvita Member of Parliament, Mohammed Machele, has disbursed cheques totaling Sh4.6 million to residents of the constituency under the Uwezo Fund to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The funds are earmarked for financial credit to enable group enterprises grow their businesses and enhance economic activities at the grassroots level.
Speaking during the event held at the Tononoka Social Hall, Machele reaffirmed his commitment to empowering the residents economically and supporting sustainable development through community-driven initiatives.
He said that a total of 37 beneficiary groups received the Uwezo Fund cheques, with 30 groups being first-time beneficiaries. Among the groups are 32 women groups and 5 youth groups.
Machele further noted that a significant challenge facing the program is the low turnout of people coming forward to benefit from this initiative. Additionally, he highlighted that some beneficiaries struggle to repay their loans, which in turn affects their ability to increase their borrowing limit in subsequent cycles.
This issue, he noted, has also hindered the program from expanding to achieve its full potential.
He emphasized the importance of creating awareness to encourage more people to participate in the Uwezo Fund program and urged beneficiaries to ensure timely repayment of loans to sustain the program’s effectiveness and impact.
“In our continued efforts to empower the people of Mvita, we have also established a local Uwezo Fund office right here in the constituency, located within the CDF offices to ensure we can easily access information and services related to the Uwezo Fund without the need to travel far.
Previously, he noted that the only office serving the fund was located at Bima Towers on the 13th floor—a location that posed significant challenges of accessibility such as non-functional lifts and the inconvenience of getting services at such a distant and elevated office which created barriers for constituents, especially for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
“By bringing these services closer to home, we are addressing these challenges head-on and providing swift, convenient, and reliable access to vital resources. We believe this new setup will not only enhance efficiency but also empower more residents to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Uwezo Fund. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive Mvita,” Machele emphasized.
Prischila Mumba, Ganjoni Shimanzi Ward MCA reiterated that the Uwezo Fund has been a tremendous support, especially during this time when unemployment remains a significant challenge in Kenya.
She noted that the fund has empowered these groups to establish and grow businesses, create self-employment opportunities, and contribute to the local economy by providing accessible financial resources.
“It is challenging for any leader to provide direct employment to 20 or 30 people at the same time. However, through initiatives like the Uwezo Fund, we have a powerful solution that empowers groups to take charge of their livelihoods. When these groups register and access funding, they can start or expand projects that generate income and improve their quality of life,” Mumba said.
She added that these initiatives benefit individuals and uplift entire communities, as the projects create shared opportunities and foster collective growth.
The Uwezo Fund is a flagship program under Kenya’s Vision 2030, designed to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing financial support for business and enterprise development. This initiative adopts a bottom-up approach, effectively ensuring grassroots decision-making to address local needs.
The fund is devolved, operating at the constituency level, and revolves in nature, meaning repayments enable continuous support for new beneficiaries.
By fostering economic participation and self-reliance among marginalized groups, the fund directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 1 (eradicating extreme poverty and hunger) and Goal 3 (promoting gender equality and empowering women).
By Fatma Said
