The County Government of Embu is set to create a special fund for porters, commonly known as beba beba, in the coming financial year budget to economically empower them.
Governor Cecily Mbarire announced the plans after meeting with over 500 porters operating in Embu Town on Friday morning and hearing the challenges they face in eking a living, including lack of tools of trade.
She said the funds will go a long way in equipping them with essential tools such as wheelbarrows, trolleys and mikokoteni, which they normally hire at a fee that the majority cannot afford.
“Our plan is to ensure we support all sectors of our economy to ensure even those doing menial jobs are able to put a meal on the table in the spirit of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” she said.
She was speaking while distributing essential tools to them made through a donation of Sh1.5 million from President William Ruto to the group during his recent visit to the county during his weeklong development tour of Mt. Kenya Region.
Governor Mbarire also announced that she was ready to support those among them willing to pursue technical courses such as masonry, plumbing, electrical works and so on, with free scholarships.
“We will enrol those in this sector interested in skills training in our Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) in the coming financial year geared towards self-reliance,” she said.
At the same time, the Governor announced that her office will assist those among them without National Identification Cards to secure them after it emerged that quite a number of them don’t have them.
“We will engage the Office of the Registrar of Persons to enable them to secure the critical document so that they can access and enjoy government services like other Kenyans,” said the Governor.
The group Chair Benjamin Mwangi, said the donation will ease their way of doing business as they will no longer have to carry luggage on their backs.
By Samuel Waititu
