Nakuru Women Representative Ms Lizz Chelule has renewed calls for youth, women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to utilise empowerment funds responsibly to achieve economic independence and self-reliance.
Ms Chelule urged youth and other vulnerable groups to form and register groups so they can access empowerment funds and grants aimed at supporting income-generating projects.
Speaking in Nakuru when she issued a Sh12.05 million from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) towards empowerment initiatives for vulnerable groups the law maker said investing in youth and women initiatives would help build a more secure and economically stable community.
She noted that the government and other stakeholders have set aside funds meant to support youth projects, but many young people are unable to benefit because they are not organized in registered groups.
“There is a lot of money meant to support our youth in various projects that can help them. That’s why we are encouraging them to create and register groups and identify viable projects so that we can support them to grow and become self-reliant,” she said.
The legislator linked the rising cases of insecurity and drug abuse among youth to unemployment and idleness, emphasizing that empowering young people economically would help address the challenge.
“We may not be able to create jobs for everyone at once, but when we empower our youth through different projects, we will have created opportunities for them. This will also enhance security in our community as youth will not engage in crime and drug abuse,” she said.
Chelule affirmed that for Kenya to achieve sustainable development all demographics and even more so those in the majority (women and youth) must be engaged in sectors essential to securing Kenya’s long-term future.
She highlighted the critical role women play in Kenya’s agricultural economy and the urgent need to address systemic barriers limiting their participation and productivity.
The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) in Kenya empowers women, youth, and vulnerable groups by providing financial support, entrepreneurship training, and resources to improve livelihoods. It promotes economic resilience through grants for business, value-addition projects, table banking, and educational scholarships, aiming to enhance productivity and reduce poverty.
She reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to placing young people at the center of Kenya’s economic transformation.
Ms Chelule said youth empowerment through enterprise development is key to tackling unemployment and unlocking innovation across the country.
“Young people are the engine of our economy. Through programs like NYOTA, we are giving them the tools they need to create jobs for themselves and others and to participate meaningfully in national development,” the Women Representative noted.
She noted that the NYOTA Project goes beyond financial support, incorporating training, mentorship and linkage to markets to improve the survival and growth rates of youth-led businesses.
Ms Chelule indicated that the project aligns with its broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritizes grassroots enterprise development.
She urged vulnerable groups to take advantage of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) framework, which reserves a portion of government tenders for women, youth, and persons with disabilities to boost their participation in public procurement.
Under the current framework, to benefit, eligible enterprises must register for an AGPO certificate, which requires at least 70 per cent ownership by women or youth and have a business that is at least 51 per cent owned by persons with disabilities
Allan Muiruri from Rukwa Division Group within Bahati Sub-County said they would utilize the Sh70,000 received from the fund to buy honey harvesting equipment.
Muiruri hailed the government for establishing youth empowerment funds which he said have significantly impacted young people by providing the financial capital and technical skills necessary to transition from job seekers to job creators.
Ms Christine Wamae advised women to take advantage of available empowerment funds to achieve socio-economic stability.
These funds, Ms Wamae added, are designed to provide financial resources, training and mentorship to help women start or scale businesses, improve household welfare and foster national economic development.
By Jane Ngugi
