Khat (miraa) women traders in Marsabit County have received a Sh13.5 million financial boost to expand their businesses and access affordable credit through a cooperative society.
The funds were raised during a fundraiser presided over by Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali at Marsabit Stadium, where he urged the beneficiaries to embrace financial discipline and use the resources responsibly to grow their enterprises.
The traders said the funds will be managed through the Gumi Miraa Sacco and issued as loans to members to strengthen miraa businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Governor Ali encouraged women traders to join and actively participate in cooperative societies, saying collective action was key to empowering communities and promoting economic growth.
“When people come together, they are able to spur economic development. Kenya cannot develop through rhetoric and politics alone,” the governor said.
He also called on political leaders to lower political temperatures by promoting peace and competing through ideas and development rather than tribal divisions.
Ali thanked President William Ruto for promoting national unity, saying residents of Marsabit had resolved to support the government’s development agenda.
He said marginalized communities had benefited from improved access to government services, including streamlined issuance of national identity cards after the removal of previous vetting requirements that hindered many residents from acquiring the documents.
Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Riwe urged the women to remain united, noting that cooperative societies provide members with opportunities to access financial support and expand their businesses.
He encouraged the traders to avoid divisions and work together to achieve economic empowerment.
Petroleum Principal Secretary Kello Harsama called for stronger cooperative movements, saying organized groups were better positioned to attract support from the government and other development partners compared to individuals.
Harsama urged the Department of Cooperatives to provide financial management training to members and advised the beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely to ensure sustainable business growth.
Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo challenged the traders to diversify their businesses by exploring other opportunities such as clothing enterprises and grocery shops to increase their income sources.
Gumi Miraa Sacco Chairlady Amina Dida said the cooperative has 350 members comprising miraa traders and farmers.
She said the funds would be provided to members as affordable business loans, enabling them to expand their small-scale enterprises.
Dida noted that many members had previously struggled to access loans due to lack of collateral but the new support had created an opportunity for them to grow their businesses.
“These funds will enable my members who lacked collateral to borrow from Saccos to boost their businesses,” she said.
The fundraiser attracted contributions from various leaders and institutions, with Governor Ali donating Sh4 million, including Sh2 million from county government staff. Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya contributed Sh1 million, while Woman Representative Naomi Waqo and PS Kello Harsama donated Sh200,000 each.
The beneficiaries expressed optimism that the financial support would improve their businesses, increase household incomes and strengthen the role of women in Marsabit’s local economy.
By Sebastian Miriti and Anthony Melly
