CS for ICT and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo has encouraged women groups to utilize the available government funds such as Hustler Fund, to uplift themselves economically.
Meeting with women groups drawn from Siaya County at his home in Asembo, Rarieda Constituency, Siaya County Owalo said the empowerment of women is critical in developing the economy of the region and nation at large.
“The government is committed to ensuring women are empowered in transformative ways that brings development to all citizens regardless of where they are in Kenya, they are all citizens and we shall ensure all these platforms are available to our women,” Owalo said.
The CS noted that very few women are well informed of the available opportunities availed by the government to help groups access funding, running and even starting businesses adding that there are many unexploited resources that women should take advantage of by gaining strength in numbers and forming cooperatives aimed at bettering their financial situations.
Among the guests who accompanied the CS included SASRA chairman Jack Ranguma, Betty Adhiambo chairperson Nyanza Women Professionals Association, Elizabeth Ongoro Senator, Rose Nyamunga Chairperson Postal Corporation, representatives from Micro and Small Enterprise Authority, State Departments of Cooperatives; SMES; Blue Economy; Women Enterprise Fund; Gender among others.
Uwezo fund which gives loans of up-to Sh50, 000 was lauded by women groups attending for being at the forefront of lending to groups, as they were encouraged to make use of the many untapped resources that the government has availed to special groups, those under 35 were also emboldened to take up the Youth Fund and women Enterprise Fund which gives loans starting from Sh50,000 to 750,000.
ICT and Construction have been identified as the most underutilized niches by women in the current economic sectors.
In the field of construction only three percent of Kenyan women are in construction according to statistics by the government.
By Calvin Otieno
