More than 300 youth groups in Mandera East and Lafey subcounties are set to benefit from Sh45 million from the Uwezo Fund kitty.
Mandera East youth officer Abdullahi Adan yesterday told the Star in Mandera town that the funds have been released by the government. He said his office in the process of vetting the youth groups. Adan appealed to area politicians to let his office distribute the money to cater for hundreds of unemployed youths in the region.
“Let politicians not interfere with this noble process of empowering the youth in this county,” he said.
“The fund will benefit not only the youth but also women and people living with disabilities. We have started receiving applications, which will be vetted by a committee under the chairmanship of Mandera women's representative."
He said the committee has 13 members. Adan said defaulters from the past government initiatives will not be considered.
“Uwezo Fund is compliant to the law and all youth groups are at liberty to apply but we have tight regulations to see that groups from Somalia and Ethiopia do not get a share,” he said.
Adan said only a few women have applied for the fund due to high level of illiteracy and cultural beliefs that women are inferior to men.
“Youthful women groups are less since our society doesn’t see the importance of the girl child,” he said.
For a group to qualify for the fund, it must be practicing table banking, must have been in existence for the past six months and has never defaulted on any other loan.
Adan called on chiefs, who are members of the vetting committee, to ensure the needy benefit from the fund.
Mandera East youth officer Abdullahi Adan yesterday told the Star in Mandera town that the funds have been released by the government. He said his office in the process of vetting the youth groups. Adan appealed to area politicians to let his office distribute the money to cater for hundreds of unemployed youths in the region.
“Let politicians not interfere with this noble process of empowering the youth in this county,” he said.
“The fund will benefit not only the youth but also women and people living with disabilities. We have started receiving applications, which will be vetted by a committee under the chairmanship of Mandera women's representative."He said the committee has 13 members. Adan said defaulters from the past government initiatives will not be considered.
“Uwezo Fund is compliant to the law and all youth groups are at liberty to apply but we have tight regulations to see that groups from Somalia and Ethiopia do not get a share,” he said.
Adan said only a few women have applied for the fund due to high level of illiteracy and cultural beliefs that women are inferior to men.
“Youthful women groups are less since our society doesn’t see the importance of the girl child,” he said.
For a group to qualify for the fund, it must be practicing table banking, must have been in existence for the past six months and has never defaulted on any other loan.
Adan called on chiefs, who are members of the vetting committee, to ensure the needy benefit from the fund.
