Sh34.4m given to vulnerable groups in Taita Taveta for investment

Taita Taveta, Kenya - Taita Taveta County government has disbursed more than Sh34.4 million to youths, women and people living with disabilities in this financial year to enable them to improve their livelihoods.

Governor John Mruttu said yesterday the money was part of Sh60 million budgeted to support vulnerable groups in the region.

“We have invested Sh60 million for the youth, women and people living with disabilities and out of this, Sh34.4 million has been disbursed to the beneficiaries,” he said.

Mr Mruttu was speaking at Voi New Wholesale Market when he officially opened a small and medium enterprises (SME) open day.

The event was sponsored by the county government in conjunction with the Coast Development Authority (CDA).

CDA is one of the implementing partners of the Kenya Coastal Development Project.

Present at the event was CDA Managing Director James Kahindi among other leaders.

EXPLOIT RESOURCES

“We will continue providing the necessary support for aspiring entrepreneurs and eventually contribute to the development, promotion and sustainable management of enterprises in the region and beyond,” said Mruttu.

The governor challenged the SMEs to exploit the natural resources that the county is endowed with because they offered varied business opportunities.

He disclosed that the county administration had established the County Biashara Centre, a one-stop shop, to offer business development services to the local community.

Mr Kahindi said CDA was directly implementing the Micro-Enterprise Development Programme for the support of alternative livelihoods.