CEO: Uwezo cash is a loan, not free money

Acting Uwezo Fund CEO Wilfred Buyema has warned groups qualifying for loans from the Government not to misuse the money, as it has to be paid back within a stipulated period and passed on to others.

Speaking last week during a four-day workshop organised by the fund, Mr Buyema told beneficiaries — who are women, youth and persons with disabilities — to use the money to grow their businesses and avoid reckless spending.

The fund is disbursing loans in tranches of Sh50,000 and Sh100,000 to reduce the risk of default.

Groups that fail to repay this initial amount will be blacklisted and their details shared with credit reference bureaus. Further, defaulters on other Government-run funds — Women Development Enterprise Development Fund and the Youth Development Fund — will not receive Uwezo financing, Buyema added.