Kiawara: Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki, has defended the ongoing economic empowerment initiatives as an important catalyst to the realization of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Speaking in Kiawara, in Kieni Nyeri County, where he led a host of elected leaders for an empowerment drive for boda boda riders and small-business traders, the DP emphasized that the only way for the country to achieve economic growth was by investing financial resources in the grassroots economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, Prof Kindiki stated, "As an administration, we believe in the BETA plan and that is why we are uplifting the ordinary citizen at the grassroots level. We believe that Kenya's economy can only be transformed into a modern economy if we put more efforts to spur economic growth from the grassroots." He further assured that the government will spare no effort in supporting small businesses to thrive. Prof Kindiki outlined several interventions, including the construction of 400 modern markets throughout the country, aimed at providing a dignified working environment for small-scale traders.
Additionally, Prof Kindiki announced the upcoming rollout of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program next month, which will extend financial support of Sh 50,000 to some 70 businesses in every administrative ward. He also reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza's commitment to addressing the youth employment crisis, highlighting initiatives like the Affordable Housing Program and the Kazi Majuu initiative, which have created significant job opportunities locally and overseas.
The Deputy President detailed plans to expand the Climate Works Mtaani Program to all counties, targeting more than 20,000 young people for environmental conservation and town clean-up projects. "We will absorb the ones we can through formal employment and for the remaining ones, we will look for other ways of creating jobs such as affordable housing and the construction of markets which have so far created opportunities for between 200,000-250,000 youth," he said.
Prof Kindiki was accompanied by elected leaders and principal secretaries, who joined him in emphasizing the need for prioritizing service delivery over political distractions. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to fulfilling its election pledges, including reviving stalled road projects and enhancing electricity connectivity through the last mile project.
For Nyeri County, he announced an additional Sh600 million for the electricity project, which aims to connect an additional 4,400 households. "As we speak, Nyeri county projects under the last mile project are worth Sh847 million, which are supposed to connect 10,600 households with power. The projects are at 66 percent. The president has directed that the allocation for the last mile project receives an additional Sh600 million, raising the amount to Sh1.5 billion to connect a total of 15,000 households," he stated.