Nakuru: Women Representative Ms. Lizz Chelule has renewed calls for youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to utilize empowerment funds responsibly to achieve economic independence and self-reliance. Ms. Chelule urged these groups to form and register groups to access empowerment funds and grants aimed at supporting income-generating projects.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ms. Chelule emphasized the importance of investing in youth and women initiatives to build a more secure and economically stable community. Speaking in Nakuru, she issued a Sh12.05 million fund from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) for empowerment initiatives targeting vulnerable groups. She highlighted that, while funds have been set aside to support youth projects, many young people are unable to benefit due to the lack of organized and registered groups.
The legislator linked the rising cases of insecurity and drug abuse among youth to unemployment and idleness, emphasizing that empowering young people economically would help address these challenges. ‘We may not be able to create jobs for everyone at once, but when we empower our youth through different projects, we will have created opportunities for them. This will also enhance security in our community as youth will not engage in crime and drug abuse,’ she said.
Chelule also stressed that engaging all demographics, particularly women and youth, is crucial for achieving sustainable development and securing Kenya’s long-term future. She highlighted the critical role women play in Kenya’s agricultural economy and the urgent need to address systemic barriers limiting their participation and productivity.
The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) in Kenya aims to empower women, youth, and vulnerable groups by providing financial support, entrepreneurship training, and resources to improve livelihoods. It promotes economic resilience through grants for business, value-addition projects, table banking, and educational scholarships, aiming to enhance productivity and reduce poverty.
Ms. Chelule reaffirmed the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to placing young people at the center of Kenya’s economic transformation. She emphasized that youth empowerment through enterprise development is key to tackling unemployment and unlocking innovation across the country. ‘Young people are the engine of our economy. Through programs like NYOTA, we are giving them the tools they need to create jobs for themselves and others and to participate meaningfully in national development,’ she noted.
The NYOTA Project, as noted by Chelule, goes beyond financial support, incorporating training, mentorship, and linkage to markets to improve the survival and growth rates of youth-led businesses. The project aligns with the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, prioritizing grassroots enterprise development.
She urged vulnerable groups to take advantage of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) framework, which reserves a portion of government tenders for women, youth, and persons with disabilities to boost their participation in public procurement. Eligible enterprises under this framework must register for an AGPO certificate, requiring at least 70 percent ownership by women or youth and have a business that is at least 51 percent owned by persons with disabilities.
Allan Muiruri from Rukwa Division Group within Bahati Sub-County mentioned that they would utilize the Sh70,000 received from the fund to buy honey harvesting equipment. Muiruri commended the government for establishing youth empowerment funds, which he said have significantly impacted young people by providing the financial capital and technical skills necessary to transition from job seekers to job creators.
Ms. Christine Wamae advised women to take advantage of available empowerment funds to achieve socio-economic stability. These funds, she added, are designed to provide financial resources, training, and mentorship to help women start or scale businesses, improve household welfare, and foster national economic development.
