Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki has defended the ongoing economic empowerment initiatives as an important catalyst to the realization of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking in Kiawara, in Kieni Nyeri County on Friday where he led a host of elected leaders for an empowerment drive for boda boda riders and small-business traders, the DP said that the only way for the country to achieve economic growth was by investing financial resources in the grassroots economy.
“As an administration we believe in the BETA plan and that is why we are uplifting the ordinary citizen at the grassroots level. We believe that Kenya’s economy can only be transformed into a modern economy if we put more efforts to spur economic growth from the grassroots,” said Prof Kindiki.
The DP also said that the government will spare no effort in supporting small businesses to thrive. Prof Kindiki said that the government has already initiated several interventions including construction of 400 modern markets throughout the country which he said will provide a dignified working environment for the small-scale traders.
Additionally, he said that the government will, starting next month, roll out the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) which will extend financial support of Sh 50,000 to some 70 businesses in every administrative ward.
Similarly, Prof Kindiki reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to addressing the youth employment crisis. He said that in addition to creating formal and informal job opportunities locally through the Affordable Housing Program,the government has also managed to secure more than 200,000 job opportunities overseas through the Kazi Majuu initiative. To further ensure that the youth are meaningfully engaged, the DP also revealed plans to cascade the Climate Works Mtaani Program in the remaining 46 counties.
“We will absorb the ones we can through formal employment and for the remaining ones we will look for other ways of creating jobs such as the affordable housing and the construction of markets which have so far created opportunities for between 200,000- 250,000 youth. We are also rolling out climate works in all counties where we are targeting more than 20,000 young people who will be engaged in environmental conservation, cleaning up our towns, tree planting and in the process earn a living,” he said.
The DP was accompanied by a host of elected leaders including Njoroge Wainaina (Kieni), Duncan Maina (Nyeri Town), Wambugu Wainaina (Othaya), Rahab Mukami (Nyeri Women Representative), Erick Wamumbi (Mathira)Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East) and Mary Wamaua(Maragua); Senators Wahome Wa Matinga (Nyeri) Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi) and Alexander Munyi (Embu). Also in attendance were Principal Secretaries Elijah Mwangi (Sports) and Alex Wachira(Energy).
While calling on elected leaders to prioritize service delivery, Prof Kindiki said that the Kenya Kwanza administration will not be sidetracked by political side shows.
The DP also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling all its election pledges including reviving stalled road projects and connecting Kenyans to the national grid through the last mile electricity connectivity project.
For Nyeri county, Prof Kindiki announced that the government will be pumping an additional Sh600 million to the electricity project. According to the DP, the enhanced funding will see an additional 4,400 additional households connected with electricity.
“As we speak, Nyeri county projects under the last mile project are worth Sh847 million which are supposed to connect 10,600 households with power. The projects are at 66 per cent. The president has directed that the allocation for the last mile project receives an additional Sh 600 million raising the amount to Sh1.5 billion to connect a total 15,000 households,” he stated.
By Wangari Mwangi
