Ruiru: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has intensified the government's economic empowerment programme in Ruiru Constituency, pledging support for thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Speaking during an empowerment forum at Ruiru Technical and Vocational College grounds, Kindiki reassured micro and small enterprise owners of the government's full support while detailing the administration's ongoing initiatives aimed at fuelling national development.
According to Kenya News Agency, Deputy President Kindiki highlighted the government's efforts to empower small-scale traders. He emphasized that these initiatives are designed to complement existing government programmes aimed at revitalising Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The government is implementing several initiatives, such as NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement) and KJET (Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation), to support the expansion and sustainability of MSEs.
The Deputy President mentioned that programmes like NYOTA and KJET, nearing finalisation for rollout, are intended to economically empower Kenyans. He assured that leaders are going beyond by complementing these with additional empowerment activities. The initiatives focus on expanding the assets of small-scale traders, women, and youth groups as part of the Kenya Kwanza Administration's efforts to accelerate the bottom-up economic transformation agenda (BETA).
Kindiki stated that BETA is centred on the continuous empowerment of micro and small enterprises (MSMEs), which he believes are crucial for Kenya's economic growth from the grassroots level upwards. He also discussed the government's agricultural support initiatives, particularly the subsidisation of farm inputs like fertiliser, which have resulted in enhanced prices for tea, coffee, and milk.
Ruiru MP Simon King'ara, who spearheaded the programme in the constituency, announced the launch of more initiatives to improve residents' livelihoods. Through the programme, various groups received essential business items such as blow dryers, computers, car pressure washers, hair clippers, motorcycles, and water tanks.