Kirinyaga: Governor Anne Waiguru has established a County Empowerment and Development Fund. The fund, which has been allocated Sh30 million this financial year, aims to support vulnerable individuals, people living with disabilities, women, youth, and other common interest groups by providing financial assistance to establish or enhance income-generating activities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Waiguru made the announcement at Kamiigua Polytechnic Grounds during the launch of the county football tournament, where she also distributed wheelchairs to selected individuals with disabilities. She emphasized that the fund is part of her broader development agenda to uplift the living standards of every county resident, regardless of their socio-economic background.
The County Assembly has already passed the necessary laws to govern the fund, ensuring its proper management. As outlined in the Kirinyaga County Empowerment and Development Act 2024, the fund's objective is to empower both men and women, including youth and people living with disabilities, by providing access to capital, financing, collaboration, training, and the development of innovative ideas in agriculture, sports, and entrepreneurship.
The fund is designed to support start-ups, asset financing, agribusiness financing, and supplier credit financing. It will be managed by an administrator and a committee comprising county officials and representatives from the county's five subcounties. This committee will oversee the fund's operations, facilitate public awareness, and review funding applications from various groups.
Waiguru expressed her gratitude to the County Assembly for enabling the fund's establishment and execution by passing the required legislation and allocating the necessary budget. During the event, 30 individuals, including 16 adults, 11 children, and three people with cerebral palsy, received wheelchairs. The governor noted that her office had previously distributed devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, white canes, prosthetics, and hearing aids.
She announced plans to acquire more devices in the coming years to benefit more individuals with disabilities, enabling them to participate in the county's development agenda. Waiguru reaffirmed the county government's commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity, ensuring that no part of society is excluded from the county's socio-economic development goals.
Furthermore, she highlighted that people with disabilities engaged in various businesses are exempt from paying for single business permits, encouraging them to venture into entrepreneurship. Waiguru reiterated her administration's dedication to supporting the vulnerable members of the community, allowing them to contribute to Kirinyaga's socio-economic progress.