South Mugirango Constituency in Kisii County has recorded a low number of applicants for the Sh25 million allocated to it from Uwezo Fund.
According to a senior official in the Constituency Development Fund office, Daniel Onserio, only 33 women’s groups have returned their application forms.
He lamented that none of the youth groups had applied for the loans from the revolving fund set up by the national Government.
Speaking to the press in his office in Tabaka, Friday, Onserio said youth and women interested in borrowing from the fund were eligible for amounts ranging between Sh100,000 and Sh500,000.
According to the officer, those wishing to apply for the monies are required to be in groups while successful loan applicants enjoy a six–month grace period before repayment starts.
He added that it was disheartening that only women were enthusiastic about fund whereas it is meant to benefit the marginalised in society, among them youth and people living with disabilities.
“No youth group has come to seek information concerning the fund which is surprising considering the high rate of unemployment among the local youth,” he added.
The official said the youth should have been in the forefront in applying for the loans to start projects that can earn them incomes instead of engaging in deviant behaviour which ends up messing their lives.
He called upon the youth to apply for the investment loans to enable them venture into self-employment to improve their lives.