Murang’a: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has vowed to continue leading economic empowerment initiatives that target to improve the lives of Kenyans through the expansion of their businesses and hustles. Speaking on Tuesday during an empowerment event for small-scale traders in Mathioya, Murang’a County, Kindiki asserted that nothing would deter the government’s efforts to boost the income of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Deputy President highlighted that these initiatives complement other empowerment programs, such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and Kenya Jobs for Economic Transformations (KJET). These programs aim to provide financial support to small and medium-sized businesses at the grassroots level. “NYOTA will provide Sh50,000 in grants to 70 small-scale businesses in each of the 1,450 wards, along with mentorship support to ensure success as they expand and create more job opportunities,” Kindiki explained.
The Depu
ty President emphasized that the “bottom-up transformation,” as promised in their manifesto, is central to the nation’s economic empowerment. Additionally, he assured residents that the government would complete all 23 modern markets in Murang’a to ensure small-scale traders enjoy a conducive business environment.
Furthermore, the government is focused on enhancing agricultural value chains, including tea, coffee, milk, and avocados, to improve the livelihoods of all Kenyans. To maximize the impact of government initiatives, the Deputy President encouraged small-scale traders and farmers to form cooperatives and SACCOs.
Significant projects in Murang’a County, such as roads and electricity connections, are also underway. “Currently, the government is implementing a Sh1.2B last-mile connectivity program to ensure that an additional 16,000 households are connected to electricity across all constituencies in Murang’a County,” Kindiki added.
The empowerment event facilitated the aggregation, sensitization, and
economic empowerment of 90 cooperatives and SACCOs for micro and small-scale traders and farmers in Mathioya constituency. Other leaders in attendance included Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo, County Women Representative Betty Maina, Maragua MP Mary Wamaua, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi, and Garissa Women Rep Udgood Sayid, among others.