Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has pledged to maintain the county’s policy of awarding government tenders to enterprises led by women, youth, and persons with disabilities, even as critics question the approach. Speaking during the handover of a school bus to Moyeni Girls Secondary School in Kinango Sub-County, Achani defended the economic empowerment program, which she said has provided thousands of residents with government contracts and improved livelihoods. The governor dismissed allegations of inefficiency, accusing opponents of lacking a development agenda. 'It is disheartening that those I compete with have no record of initiatives to show voters,' she stated, adding, 'How can a man in his 70s reject programs that have transformed lives in Kwale?'
The program, launched four years ago, has restructured more than 6,000 village savings and loan associations into group-led limited companies. Of these, 450 have secured tenders from the Kwale County Government, spanning sectors such as construction of early childhood development centers, dispensaries, pipeline extensions, and cleaning services. The initiative covers all four municipalities—Kinango, Lunga Lunga, Diani, and Kwale—aiming to foster inclusive economic growth. Achani emphasized that the model has created opportunities for marginalized groups, citing beneficiaries like Luvuno Mshenga from Kinango and Janet Mukulwa from Tiwi Ward, who credited the contracts with boosting their communities’ economic stability.
Critics, including some politicians in Kwale, have raised concerns about the program’s sustainability and transparency. However, Achani urged residents to evaluate the development track records of candidates vying for office. 'The people of Kwale must look at who has delivered and who has not,' she said. The governor’s administration has faced scrutiny over the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, though officials maintain the process aligns with national policies on gender and youth empowerment. Local business leaders have expressed mixed reactions, with some praising the initiative’s impact and others calling for greater oversight.
The economic empowerment program has become a central issue in Kwale’s political landscape ahead of the 2022 elections. Achani’s office highlighted that the model has generated over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, though independent verification of these figures remains pending. As the debate continues, the governor’s focus on inclusive procurement underscores a broader national trend of leveraging public contracts to address systemic inequalities. Residents remain divided, with some celebrating the program’s benefits and others demanding more accountability from local leaders.