Ahadi Kenya Trust in partnership with some local and international organizations has donated mixers to empower women and youth groups in Murang’a County.
Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley Kamau while speaking during the handing over of three dairy salt and animal feed ribbon mixers at Kangari polytechnic in Kigumo in Murang’a County, said the donation aims at creating employment for production and supply chain for youth and women in the county.
Kamau said the dairy salt and feed ribbon mixers will benefit the women and youth groups from Kiharu, Mathioya and Kigumo constituencies in Murang’a County.
“In order to fight theft cases and alcoholism, we are empowering our young people so that they can have funds to uplift themselves,” said Kamau, adding that the locals also received avocado seedlings to plant in their farms.
Kamau said the dairy salt lick and feed produced from the equipment will be taken to Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for standardization to maintain the required quality.
“Once they have been standardized, those who are manufacturing dairy salt-lick will open a shop in the area and sell the salt to the youths at a discounted price, as the youths go and resale it to earn a living” he said.
He urged all women and youths in the locality to register with a group, so that they can stand a chance to benefit from initiatives that will empower them economically.
Ushiriki Wema Executive Director Mercelyn Mokaira said the organization’s vision is to continue to empower the youth and women in the society so that they live in dignity.
She said a key highlight of their journey has been their partnership with Ahadi Trust Kenya together with the support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) where they have undertaken impactful projects that reflect the power of collaboration.
“We believe in the power of partnership in women and youth empowerment in transforming lives across our communities” said Mokaira, adding that with dignity, you are able to prosper, to be respected and to be empowered.
On her part, Ushiriki Wema CEO Women and Youth Empowerment Sintoiya Kasaine said the salt making machines will not only enhance households’ income, but also contribute to the economic empowerment of local communities.
Kasaine said the equipment will equip the women and youth with entrepreneurial skills and tools to generate sustainable income fostering independence and self-reliance.
“The women and youth are the ones who will be making dairy salt and mixing of animal feeds using the feed ribbon mixers,” she said adding they will choose to generate sustainable income.
She said their commitment to empowering women and youth continues to drive them towards creating sustainable opportunities and lasting change.
The CEO further said in addition to these economic initiatives they also recognize the transformative potential of education and digital skills.
“We have launched a youth entrepreneurial forums where participants train in digital literacy and entrepreneurial development,” she said, adding they also educate them on how to manage their money.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Country Coordinator Yasemin Kurt expressed her gratitude to the partners, stakeholders and the county government for supporting the initiative, which will empower the women and youth in the county.
Kurt said TIKA always works in line with the development priorities and strategic policies and plans of the national and county governments in projects they are implementing.
“We have carried out more than two hundred projects in the country and we are happy that Murang’a is one of the counties that has benefited from initiates that aim to empower women and youth,” she said.
By Anita Omwenga
