Vihiga County women’s groups received Sh18.8 million in empowerment funding from the Uwezo Fund and Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) on Friday, as part of a nationwide sensitization drive on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) hosted by Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya at Mbale Municipal grounds. The funds, comprising Sh4.55 million from the Uwezo Fund and Sh14.25 million from WEF, were disbursed during the event. Dr. Annie Njau, Uwezo Fund’s Head of Loans and acting CEO Peter Lengapiani’s representative, emphasized the programs’ focus on training, capacity building, and interest-free loans to support women, youth, and people with disabilities. She highlighted that since its 2013/2014 inception, the Uwezo Fund has disbursed Sh8.4 billion to 84,921 groups nationwide, including 55,304 women groups, 27,443 youth groups, and 2,174 groups for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Uwezo Fund has allocated Sh109,829,118 for disbursement to 1,403 groups in Vihiga County, including 962 women groups, 409 youth groups, and 32 PWD groups, boosting the region’s revolving fund to Sh133,512,000. Dr. Njau noted the national loan repayment rate stands at Sh3.64 billion (45%), with Vihiga County’s repayment at Sh47,288,676 (36%). Sabatia constituency led in repayment at 42%, while Emuhaya constituency topped in revolving funds at Sh11 million. She urged groups to repay loans promptly to ensure continued access to funding and emphasized prudent use of resources for development.
Uwezo Fund further distributed Sh4.55 million to 40 groups in Vihiga County, with 16 groups in Hamisi Constituency receiving Sh2.15 million and 24 groups in Vihiga Constituency getting Sh2.4 million. The funding aims to strengthen economic resilience, aligning with the government’s MSMEs strategy. Dr. Njau reiterated the importance of financial discipline, stating that timely repayments enable the fund to support more beneficiaries. The initiative reflects broader efforts to address economic disparities and promote inclusive growth in Kenya’s rural regions.
The disbursement follows a broader push to empower marginalized groups through targeted financial interventions. While the Uwezo Fund and WEF focus on economic inclusion, other initiatives, such as the World Food Programme’s recent donation of supplies to the Kenya Police Authority to combat coronavirus, underscore the government’s multifaceted approach to development. Meanwhile, former Kenya Revenue Authority boss John Njoroge was recognized for his role in encouraging tax compliance, highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial systems.