By D, KNA
More than 5,000 opharns and vulnerable children Bungoma County have benefitted from the distribution of capital assets provide through sponsorship of the America government under the USAID 4TheChild initiative.
According to USAID 4TheChild team led by Deputy Chief of Party, Kennedy Otieno, the program is designed to empower households through education support and providing capital for income-generating activities.
Otieno said that the agency had distributed items, including school fee cheques, stationery, salon equipment, and sewing machines.
“We are targeting orphans, caregivers, and households affected by HIV/Aids, with the goal of reducing dependency and fostering self-reliance,” he said.
The Deputy Chief of Party said that since its inception, the project has invested over Sh143 million in Bungoma County to address the needs of vulnerable families.
He said that the project currently supports 5,259 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from 2,714 households across all nine sub-counties of Bungoma.
“This includes 1,962 children living with HIV, 98 HIV-exposed infants, and 3,199 OVCs affected by HIV,” said Otieno.
He reaffirmed their partnership with the county government and community structures to safeguard the dignity of vulnerable groups.
Otieno noted that the five-year program will run until March 2026 with the main aim being about creating opportunities that allow families to live with dignity and build sustainable futures.
A beneficiary of the programme, Mary Chepkorir, a resident of Kongit location, Mt Elgon Sub County, applauded the initiative by USAID 4TheChild terming it as a long-term plan to support them.
Chepkorir said that Mt Elgon Sub County being a good agricultural area, she will engage in both short term and long-term crop cultivation respectively.
“This will cater for both my short- and long-term plan to provide for the family needs,” she said.
Bungoma Governor, Kenneth Lusaka, commended USAID 4TheChild for its unwavering commitment to uplifting marginalized groups across the county.
Lusaka said that the economic empowerment is central to building resilient communities.
“My administration is committed to creating an enabling environment for such programs to thrive and support orphans, vulnerable children and families,” Lusaka said.
He added that the initiative has enabled families to meet basic needs, educate their children, and venture into sustainable livelihoods.
Governor Lusaka urged beneficiaries to embrace accountability and sustainability to ensure long-lasting impact.