Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka has disbursed KSh6.2 million in Uwezo Fund cheques to 31 groups comprising women, youth and men in Kiambu Constituency, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots entrepreneurship and promoting economic empowerment.
The disbursement, conducted alongside Kiambu County Director of Youth Affairs John Mwangi, seeks to provide financial support to community groups looking to expand their businesses, create employment opportunities and improve household incomes.
Waithaka said the initiative was informed by the need to ensure that residents have access to financial resources that can help transform their business ideas into sustainable enterprises.
He noted that listening to beneficiaries share their entrepreneurial journeys demonstrated the importance of supporting local businesses, particularly those that have started with limited resources but have continued to grow through access to funding.
The MP said the support was not merely about issuing cheques but also about creating opportunities for residents to strengthen their enterprises, increase their incomes and become more economically self-reliant.
He added that empowering community groups would contribute to the broader economic development of Kiambu Constituency by encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting job creation and expanding opportunities for local residents.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen the capacity of women and youth to participate in economic activities while enabling existing businesses to grow and serve wider markets.
Representatives from the Women Enterprise Fund were also present during the exercise, where they guided the groups on additional financing opportunities available through the agency.
The representatives, Nasra Yusuf, Kennedy Ogola and Benard Guama, explained how eligible groups could explore further funding to support business expansion and enhance their financial stability.
The engagement provided beneficiaries with information on complementary financing options, broadening their understanding of available government-backed opportunities for enterprise development.
Waithaka reaffirmed his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote economic empowerment, strengthen small businesses and improve the livelihoods of residents across the constituency.
He said sustained investment in people and community enterprises was essential in building a stronger local economy, noting that access to capital could help transform small ventures into sustainable sources of income and employment.
The Uwezo Fund is a government initiative designed to expand access to financing for women, youth and persons with disabilities, particularly at the constituency level, to support entrepreneurship and grassroots economic development.
Through the disbursement, the 31 beneficiary groups are expected to utilise the funds to advance their respective economic activities and pursue opportunities for growth.
Waithaka, who champions the development-oriented slogan Fundi Wa Maendeleo, has continued to emphasise the importance of practical interventions that enable residents to improve their livelihoods and participate in economic development.
“Yangu Ni Kazi Tu,” the MP’s slogan, underscores his emphasis on work, enterprise and community development.