Sipili and Ol-Moran group leaders capacity built on Uwezo Fund

By Bob Aston

Community based organizations (CBOs) and self help group leaders from Sipili/Ol Moran Ward were on October 10, 2014 capacity built on Uwezo Fund at Sipili Catholic Church Hall in Laikipia West. The training which was organized by Sipili/Ol Moran Member of County Assembly (MCA) provided group leaders with an opportunity to learn how to apply for the funds.

Speaking during the training, Sipili/Ol-Moran Ward MCA, Hon Duncan Ndegwa urged women and youths to apply for the fund as it will go a long way in empowering them economically.

Hon Ndegwa addressing participants during the training

“Many people have been coming to my office asking about Uwezo Fund. This training will enable you to learn about the fund and we expect that you will also train other community members on how they can apply for the fund,” said Hon Ndegwa.

Hon Ndegwa noted that Uwezo Fund was started to help youths and women become self reliant. He urged people to apply for the fund in order to eliminate poverty in Sipili/Ol-Moran Ward.

The Uwezo Fund is a flagship programme for vision 2030 aimed at enabling women, youth and persons with disability access finances to promote businesses and enterprises at the constituency level.

Mr. Peter Kinyua, Laikipia West Uwezo Fund Chairman and also Salama Ward Uwezo Fund representative, noted that the fund seeks to expand access to finances and promote women, youth and persons living with disability led enterprises at the constituency level.

He said that Laikipia West Constituency has received Ksh 21.447 million. He informed participants that Uwezo Fund is interest free. He said that a three (3) percent administration fee is charged when the funds are disbursed to groups.

He said that Laikipia West has six (6) wards and each ward has Uwezo Fund representative. Members of parliament are patrons of the fund in constituencies while County women representatives represent Uwezo Fund at the County level.

”The minimum amount that groups can receive is Ksh 50,000 while the maximum amount is Ksh 500,000. Groups will have a grace period of six months before they start repaying the amount that they had received and the repayment period will last for two years,” said Mr. Kinyua.

Mr. Peter Kinyua addressing participants during the training

He said that for a group to qualify for funding they need to have a registration certificate, bank account, members ID photocopies, three (3) previous group minutes, list of members with ID numbers and Uwezo Fund certificate which will be issued by Uwezo Fund once the members have been trained.

He urged Laikipia West communities to collect application forms from Uwezo Fund Ward representatives.

He said that groups must be in existence for more than three (3) months in order to receive funding. Other areas that they look out for include; total contribution of group members, table banking and groups that have a business plan although they always train groups on business plan before funds are disbursed to them.

The objective for which the Fund was established include; To expand access to finances in promotion of youth and women businesses and enterprises at the constituency level for economic growth towards the realization of the goals of Vision 2030, to generate gainful self- employment for the youth and women and to model an alternative framework in funding community driven development.