Beneficiaries of government funds have been advised to be utilising such money with prudence to help create wealth in the community.
Speaking in Yatta sub county Monday while touring the Katangi Universal Self Help Group abattoir, Machakos Woman Representative Joyce Kamene Kasimbi said money from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) should not only create wealth for the recipients but should also open similar opportunities to the community.
She singled out the self-group as one of the success stories of community based organizations that have invested loans received from the government and achieved a lot and urged area residents to join similar groups.
“I wish to challenge our people to organise themselves into self-help groups where it will be possible to access government funds which they can afterwards plough back into economic ventures of their choice. I am elated to learn that the Katanga Universal Self Help Group has also opened up employment opportunities to a number of young people in this locality by hiring them to work in this abattoir where they can earn a livelihood. This is a commendable move,” she said.
On his part, the group Secretary General Jeremiah Mutua Matata thanked the legislator for visiting the slaughterhouse which he said had greatly transformed the fortunes of the area. He said the proposal to open a slaughter house was borne out of the need of creating a market for farmers’ livestock and in the process help bring some semblance of development to the area.
“The idea to begin this project was mooted way back in 2017 to assist members improve their lives. Since then we have managed to construct this slaughter house and also managed to employ ten youths to work there,” said Matata.
He however appealed for more leaders to be touring such community projects in order to offer both technical and financial assistance whenever needed as the majority of them are barely struggling to stay afloat.
Kasimbi promised to secure some funding for the group to enable in its future projects.
By Samuel Maina
