Migori: Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed has appealed to the national government to increase allocations to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), stating that the current funding is inadequate to meet the growing demand for women’s economic empowerment programs across the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, Fatuma made the appeal after distributing Sh250,000 in grants to 11 registered women’s groups at Wasweta II Ward in Suna West Constituency. She highlighted that her office receives about Sh2.7 million every quarter, which she described as insufficient to support women in all the county’s 40 wards. Many deserving women’s groups, despite meeting eligibility requirements, continue to miss out on funding due to budgetary constraints.
The grants are aimed at strengthening women-led enterprises, expanding table banking initiatives, and improving household incomes through sustainable income-generating activities. Fatuma emphasized that beneficiary groups would invest in small businesses while NGAAF officials would conduct follow-up visits to ensure the grants are used for their intended purpose.
Fatuma noted that the latest disbursement adds to previous NGAAF interventions that have supported women’s empowerment, education, and community development across Migori County. Earlier this year, over 100 women and youth groups benefited from empowerment equipment worth about Sh12 million under the Wezesha Mama, Inua Jamii programme, which provided sewing machines, posho mills, water tanks, and other equipment to help establish and expand sustainable businesses.
Besides entrepreneurship support, NGAAF provides bursaries to needy students and distributes sanitary towels to school-going girls, aiming to reduce absenteeism and school dropouts among vulnerable learners. The fund’s impact is evident in the growing number of women achieving financial independence through NGAAF support.
Fatuma urged women, especially in rural areas and informal settlements, to organize themselves into registered groups to qualify for future funding opportunities. She noted that many potential beneficiaries lack formal registration or essential requirements like KRA PIN certificates and bank accounts, which are necessary for accessing the grants.
She clarified that NGAAF funding is issued as grants, not loans, and beneficiaries are not required to refund the money. However, the fund maintains strict monitoring to ensure grants are invested in genuine income-generating activities that benefit all group members.
Beneficiaries welcomed the disbursement, describing the program as a crucial source of business capital for women unable to access conventional financial services. Sharon Odek from Magoto and Jane Achieng’ from Suna West emphasized the significant impact of NGAAF support on their economic well-being and appealed for increased allocations to benefit more women’s groups. Fatuma reiterated that increasing NGAAF allocations would enhance support for women entrepreneurs, strengthen grassroots enterprises, and stimulate local economic growth across Migori County.
