A total of 16 self-help groups from Ruring’u ward have benefitted from an assortment of merchandise from the County Government of Nyeri under the Wezesha Empowerment Programme.
The equipment which include car washing machines, hair dryers, plastic chairs and tents were handed over at the County Hall grounds yesterday at a colourful ceremony presided over by Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga.
While handing over the merchandise of the groups, Dr Kahiga has urged the beneficiaries to utilize them well to boost their incomes and improve their overall lives.
The County boss underscored the need to empower grassroots units through such assistance and stressed the Wezesha programme was more than distributing equipment but restoring dignity and building stronger and more self-reliant communities.
A total of 22 hair dryers, one car washing machine,18 professional shaving machines and 15 -100 seater tents were handed over during the event.
“Through this Programme, this Administration seeks to give our people fishing rods rather than fish – equipping them with assets that can generate income, create employment and strengthen their economic independence. I therefore encourage the beneficiaries to safeguard and put the equipment to good use, build a strong savings culture and use the opportunities created to establish lasting businesses that will benefit their households and communities.” he told the beneficiaries.
Earlier this week Dr Kahiga had visited Kamakwa and Mukaro wards in Nyeri Central where he helped distribute similar merchandise to support local self-help groups.
During the function, the County Government donated 600 branded plastic chairs,100 bodaboda umbrellas,11 circular sawing machines,16 parasols, a car washing machine,35 blow-dryers, four hair dryers and 18 shaving machines.
Dr Kahiga pledged to continue leading similar drives in other wards as one way of ensuring local entrepreneurs thrive and in the process help address the challenge of unemployment in rural areas.
“Through the Department of Gender, Youth, Sports and Social Services led by CECM Esther Ndung’u, this support is aimed at strengthening existing livelihoods, creating new income-generating opportunities and enabling residents to grow their small businesses.” he stated.
“The programme is designed to move groups beyond dependency by providing them with the tools they need to build sustainable and commercially viable enterprises. We remain committed to furthering Nyeri’s socio-economic empowerment agenda, and take collective pride in all efforts that lift our citizens and the community at large.”
The County government through the Department of Gender, Youth, Sports, and Social Services had placed an advert in February this year calling for registered groups to apply for the fund which was targeting 34 out of the 40 wards in the county.
The Wezesha Programme targets individuals or registered groups already undertaking income generating initiatives with the aim of transforming such businesses into profit minting enterprises.
The program object is to support self-help groups with business empowerment equipment, tools and machinery.
The program was launched back in 2018 with an initial budget of Sh 1.5 million with the objective of enhancing income generation among registered self-help groups at the ward level.
From then Wezesha has grown into a countywide initiative with funding totaling Sh 72 million in 2025.
To qualify for the grant, applicants must have been enrolled under a registered self-help group.
Successful applicants can benefit from among others car washing machines, salon hair clippers, tents, plastic chairs, video cameras, egg incubators and welding equipment.
Last year alone the County government distributed equipment and assorted machines to 400 self-groups in all the 40 wards under the program.
In September 2024 Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said the County was rooting for empowering the local community groups through the Wezesha program as one way of creating wealth among rural dwellers.
Kahiga said with adequate support self-help groups could be transformed into income generating entities that can change the lives of hundreds of unemployed persons in the villages.
By Samuel Maina
