Kiambu Women Representative, Annah Nyokabi and Limuru MP, John Kiragu yesterday issued cheques worth Sh.9 million to qualified groups of the Uwezo Fund at the St Francis of Asisi Catholic Church Hall in Kiambu County.
Representatives of 90 groups who included women, youth and people with disability groups from all the five wards within Limuru sub-county were on hand to receive the cheques with each set given a standard amount of Sh.100, 000.
There was concern among youth in Limuru area that most of them shied away from registering for the Uwezo Fund because of an apparent lack of ideas on what to invest in.
Those who received the cheques asked the government to increase the allocation made to them saying the Sh.100, 000 given was too little to do meaningful investments.
“We are a group of 30 young men and we applied for Sh.500, 000 so we can be importing vehicle tires and sell them here in Kenya. With Sh100, 000 we cannot do this business and now have to rethink our business plans,” Samuel Kimani, one of the beneficiaries said.
However, the area MP John Kiragu told those present not to despise the small allocation but use it well since it would be an incremental revolving fund.
“I agree the Sh.100,000 each is indeed and we will devise ways of ensuring the amount is increased in the future,” Nyokabi said.
The Uwezo fund is a government revolving fund where groups acquire interest free loans and whose repayment starts after six months from the day of remittance.
The fund is under the Ministry of Devolution led by Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.