The leadership in Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County has raised more than Sh 1.4 million to support 30 different women groups consisting of widows to help them begin business for self-sustainability.
Speaking at Agriculture Training Center (ATC) in Kisii Central Sub-county, Kisii Senator, Prof. Sam Ongeri, said the move by Nyaribari Chache Constituency Member of Parliament Richard Tongi, to bring widows together and help them, is in line with the Constitutional requirement of catering for the vulnerable groups in the society.
“They are normally missed out in any national planning, in our programmes as leaders and today, there is a revolutionary process, which will culminate in stable banking that will increase the financial capacity of our women groups, particularly the widows,” Prof. Ongeri explained.
The Senator also said that widows face daily challenges, which can now be solved through the initiative, urging other constituencies in the County to imitate the move.
Supporting Prof. Ongeri’s remarks, Mr. Tongi said uplifting widows in the community is a way of inspiring and giving them hope, that all is not lost despite the obstacles they face.
“We are, today, raising funds for the ladies who have lost their husbands, because they are very needy people in our midst and we have never had this kind of occasion,” Mr. Tongi said.
Tongi also said that a local bank has agreed to offer technical support for the women groups to begin table banking, so that contributions and saving can be continuous.
“We got to be practical and also realistic. How much can a government do? There are many things which have been proposed in our Bill but I doubt we have the money to implement it. We got to start in our small way and support them by what we have done, today and fundraising for those who are already organized,” he added.
By Erastus Michieka
