Youth fund boss dishes out Sh5.2m to 15,000 Kitui youngsters

Kitui Governor Julius Malombe (left), Deputy County Commissioner Henry Wafula and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund lending manager Ms Judy Kimeto, during an open day and presentation of cheques at to youth groups at Kitui’s Park [PHOTO: PAUL MUTUA/STANDARD].

KITUI: Some 15,000 youths in Kitui will benefit from Sh5.2 million worth of loans from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF).

The money will be distributed in the eight sub-counties for the youth to invest.

The YEDF CEO Catherine Namuye yesterday said the investment will cover general retailing and wholesaling supplies, livestock husbandry products, electrical and electronic appliances and services, arts and creative works, bee keeping and products value addition as well as agribusiness and poultry farming.

Ms Namuye said Mwingi North sub-County would receive Sh1.35 million, Kitui East Sh890,000, Kitui Rural Sh850,000, Mwingi West Sh650,000, Kitui West Sh600,000, Kitui South Sh450,000 and Kitui Central Sh100,000.

The CEO's remarks were contained in a speech read on her behalf by the fund's Lending Manager Judy Kimeto during an open day and presentation of cheques at Kitui Park.

SHARED SUCCESS

"Since inception, the fund has disbursed a total of Sh162milion in this county. Today, we have disbursed an additional Sh5.2 million. Kitui County has performed reasonably well in the uptake of YEDF loans," Namuye said.

The chief guest at the event was Kitui Governor Julius Malombe who was accompanied by county chief officers, executive members and Members of the County Assembly among other leaders.

Namuye said the event is the first in a series that will see the fund reach its stakeholders across the country.

"This is an opportunity to engage with you, share our successes and challenges, explain what we do and to obtain feedback from you. We at YEDF have adopted a human rights approach in our work.

We take it that it is the right of the youth to obtain our services. We have now embarked on dealing with the challenges that prevent the youth from accessing our services, including information gaps," she said.

GREAT NEED

Namuye said considering the dry climatic patterns in the county, there was great need to educate the youth on the various opportunities available so that they can fully exploit the potential of the county.

"For instance, the mining of coal will create numerous opportunities for our youth. We need to sensitise them on these opportunities and empower them to take advantage of them," Namuye said.

Dr Malombe said his government will partner with the fund in a sensitisation exercise for the youngsters in the county.

"We are ready and willing to co-operate with YEDF to serve our resourceful youth. There is space for everyone and therefore we are not in competition," the governor said.

He said his government has also put aside Sh35 miilion to support co-operatives in agro-processing where youth groups, Saccos and co-operatives will benefit.