Co-operatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises CS Wycliffe Oparanya has officially launched the MSMEs Countrywide Sensitization Drive, with special emphasis on the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking during the ceremony at the Mbale Municipal grounds, Vihiga County, Oparanya, commended the government for undertaking various BETA programmes including reforms in agriculture, where currently we have subsidized fertilizer at Sh2,000 per 50 kg, thus reducing the cost of farming in the country.
Oparanya also cited the affordable housing project, which has reportedly created over 1 million both direct and indirect employment opportunities for the people, especially the youth, thus empowering them economically.
He said should this model be fully embraced like in Singapore, then we would have complexes in urban areas complete with the basic social amenities, where people would be settled and leave productive rural lands entirely for farming.
The CS said health is also a key pillar in the Kenya Kwanza government, where the state wants to register all citizens for universal health care through the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ensure that everyone has access to affordable health. He said the government wants to lead a healthy nation.
On technology, Oparanya commended the government for embracing technology and digitizing approximately 25,000 government services, saying we now have a digital superhighway, where many government services can now be accessed online, while youths can also access employment via online platforms.
During the forum, 15 government agencies, including SHA, MSMEs, MSEA, NITA, Huduma Kenya, Uwezo Fund, Youth Enterprise Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, NYOTA Project, Hustler Fund, KEBS, Affordable Housing Board, and Kenya Industrial Estates, sensitized citizens present on their services.
He said MSMEs are the largest employers, as many people, including youths and women, have small and medium business enterprises, which empowers them economically.
Oparanya added that the government had also come up with various funding opportunities, including the UWEZO Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, the Women Enterprise Fund, and the NYOTA project, which is helping citizens to start and expand businesses.
The CS said there are over 20 million Kenyans in MSMEs, making it one of the highest employers, as it is offering Kenyans economic empowerment through the small and medium businesses they are engaged in.
Oparanya added that the government had equally set aside Sh1 billion to purchase quality coffee seedlings for distribution across the country, while encouraging farmers to form and register groups in order to benefit from the government initiative.
The CS urged Kenyans to embrace coffee farming, which fetches more money through exports, so that we can get more revenue.
By Maureen Imbayi
