Machakos DG slams Kindiki's handout politics, calls for policy-driven empowerment

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi (right) greets officials on arrival at the Machakos ASK national show. [Erastus Mulwa, Standard]

Machakos deputy Governor, Francis Mwangangi has challenged the Kenya Kwanza administration to institutionalize economic empowerment programs instead of conducting haphazard cash hand-outs to citizens.

Speaking after opening the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) national show in Machakos, Mwangangi said President William Ruto's administration has ignored the proper empowerment policies initiated by his predecessor, the late former president Mwai Kibaki.

In particular, Mwangangi criticized the ongoing women empowerment funds drive initiative being spearheaded by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in Ukambani and other parts of the country, terming it a serious affront to the established structures of equity in the sharing of the national cake.

"The real empowerment is not what politicians are doing. President Kibaki and (vice president) Kalonzo created a women enterprise fund, and also created a youth fund. We need to go back to institutionalism to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the board," the DG said.

Mwangangi claimed the president and his deputy were being misled by some politicians into ignoring the need to ensure institutions were well resourced to undertake their various mandates.

The DG made the remarks at about the same time when Prof Kindiki was leading a host of Kenya Kwanza allied elected leaders in an empowerment funds drive for women groups at the Scott Christian University grounds in Machakos Town constituency hosted by area MP, Caleb Mule.

Meanwhile, the Machakos ASK show is seeking an additional 40 acres to expand its land size in order to accommodate the ongoing infrastructure improvement.

Addressing the media at the showground Friday afternoon, ASK chief executive officer Bartron Muthoka noted the Machakos ASK show's progressive growth had triggered the need for more space in order to accommodate more projects.

"We are looking to transform this premises from just a one week event venue to a business hub that runs various businesses. We have developed our integrated master plan which is already complete and engaged the county government of Machakos which is a major stakeholder in order to align it with the integrated county development plan," said Muthoka.