Kisumu: Hundreds of vulnerable households, adolescent girls, and young women in Kisumu County have received a major economic boost after the USAID 4 The Child Project rolled out business support worth Sh12.8 million to promote micro-enterprises. The programme, launched on Thursday at the USAID offices in Kisumu, will benefit 433 households and 312 adolescent girls and young women, providing them with tools such as salon and beauty kits and irrigation equipment, tailored to each beneficiary's needs.
According to Kenya News Agency, George Okoth, Chief of Party for the project, stated that the assets were procured following careful household assessments to ensure they met specific priorities. 'Out of the Sh12.8 million used across five counties, Kisumu alone accounted for Sh9 million, given the high number of beneficiaries here,' Okoth explained. This year, the project has served over 30,000 orphaned and vulnerable children, including more than 6,000 children living with HIV. Additionally, 14,206 girls have been supported in different programmes to help them remain HIV-free and economically empowered.
Okoth further explained that the intervention extends beyond asset distribution, as the project has paid Sh17 million in school fees for vulnerable learners in Kisumu since October last year. Addressing concerns about recent U.S. aid cuts to Africa, Okoth clarified that the USAID 4 The Child Project was among 11 projects that retained funding. 'We are still receiving support from the U.S. government, and we thank them for allowing Moi University College of Health Sciences to continue delivering these services,' he said.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, who presided over the event, praised the programme as a model partnership that bridges resource gaps faced by both national and county governments. 'Governments everywhere struggle with limited budgets. Partners like USAID help us bridge that deficit. Here in Kisumu, they are empowering caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children, training them and providing the tools to generate income,' he said, adding that the project has contributed to positive health outcomes in the county.
Dr. Owili highlighted that due to these interventions, Kisumu now records 95 percent viral suppression among children living with HIV, marking a significant health milestone. He emphasized the importance of focusing on young women and girls, stating, 'Too many girls fall prey to predatory men. Without skills and economic opportunities, their lives can be derailed. But today, you can see girls walking away with salon kits, irrigation pumps, and other tools. It's not just about handouts, it's about giving them the fishing line and hook instead of the fish.'
The Deputy Governor commended USAID for strengthening both the health system and household resilience since the project launched in 2021. The USAID 4 The Child Project is implemented in Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, Busia, and Bungoma counties, focusing on improving the welfare of children affected by HIV/AIDS while empowering households to achieve economic independence.