Kwale Deputy Governor (DG) Fatuma Achani on Sunday graced a women summit at the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) Church in Ukunda Township.
The daylong summit dubbed ‘a rising woman’ is set to encourage womenfolk to stand out and take the initiative of development in the realms of spirituality, socially, economically and in leadership.
The women empowerment summit has been organized by Kwale county women clergy in the evangelical church to discuss various socio-economic opportunities for women.
The DG assured women in Kwale that the county government has prioritized women empowerment programmes.
“We have put in place measures and policies to make sure that Kwale county women prosper in all spheres of life,” she said.
Achani however urged women to seek information on county and national government opportunities and also take part in public participation forums such as the budget making process.
She said both the counties and the national government are committed to ensure that marginalized groups such as women, youth and the disabled access opportunities that will enable them realize their full potential.
On the 30 per cent Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), the DG noted that women, youth and persons with disabilities should be enlightened on how to benefit from tenders and contracts without competing with large enterprises that are already established in the market.
“I call upon our women to make use of our bursary program and take technical courses in our Technical and Vocational Training Institutes,” she said, adding that women should embrace entrepreneurship to economically empower themselves.
The DG also urged women to come together and register as empowerment groups for them to benefit from the county’s Trade Revolving Fund, and other opportunities designed to help them contribute to the transformation agenda of the county and country.
She was accompanied by several county government officials among them County Executive Committee Members Joanne Nyamasyo (Agriculture) Sylvia Chidodo (Public Service), Saumu Mahaja (Environment).
By Hussein Abdullahi
