Juja Residents Plead For Inclusion In Government’s BETA Empowerment Programme
Residents and traders at Juja town, Kiambu County.
By John Kamau
As the Kenya Kwanza administration intensifies grassroots empowerment under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Juja constituency residents in Kiambu County have appealed for provision of the funds to expand businesses and enhance livelihoods.
The economic empowerment that’s targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), youth and women groups seeks to provide funds for the groups to growth their businesses and boost their income.
The programme is being spearheaded by Kenya Kwanza leaders led by Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki who has been crisscrossing the country and especially the Mt Kenya region.
Juja residents who spoke to journalists on Tuesday raised concerns that they are yet to benefit from the programme, urging the State to meet them and provide with the crucial support for their businesses to thrive.
The locals including boda boda operators, small scale traders among others asserted that most businesses in the area have been crippled by the harsh economic climate in the country as well as the high cost of living.
They averred that most traders have been pushed out of business due to lack of finances to grow and sustain their income-generating ventures noting that the State funds will play a pivotal role in reviving the businesses and improving their livelihoods.
“The situation has been exacerbated by the unemployment crisis in the country which has left most people and especially the youth hopeless. These funds will go a long way in revitalizing this area’s economy. We don’t want to be left out in the economic empowerment programme,” said Mary Wambui, a trader at Juja market.
Similar sentiments were echoed by residents Jane Njoki and Ephraim Mukuhu who termed the programme as a shot-in-the-arm for grassroot ‘hustlers’ adding that they are eagerly waiting for the funds to transform their lives.
So far, Deputy President Kindiki, in collaboration with several Kiambu MPs, has toured Gatundu North, Gatundu South, Lari, Limuru, Kabete, and Kiambaa constituencies, where he has distributed millions of shillings to organized groups in support of their economic ventures.
However, Juja constituency, represented by MP George Koimburi who seems to be against the current administration— has yet to receive similar attention, a factor local feel should not hinder their inclusion in national development.
“Politics shouldn’t be a barrier for residents to benefit from government programmes. We need our leaders to sit and listen to us and act upon our plight and especially on economic empowerment,” Mukuhu said.
Under the bottom-up model, the government aims to uplift the economically disadvantaged by empowering grassroots entrepreneurs through grants, training, and access to resources.
Local leaders and community representatives now hope Prof Kindiki and the government will heed their call and bring the much-awaited support to the people of Juja.
Recently while defending the programme, DP Kindiki noted that the government has set aside Sh28 billion to boost small-scale businesses belonging to hustlers in each of the 1450 Wards across the country in a bid to raise income and improve their lives.
He assured that the government is keen to roll out the transformative National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program to improve small-scale businesses run by thousands who need support to expand and enhance returns.
“We are in the business of transforming Kenya from the grassroots. It is not an easy thing to do but we are fully committed to doing so. It will take time but we are focused on it,” said Prof Kindiki.
Prof Kindiki said the NYOTA program is one of the transformative initiatives the Ruto administration is rolling out.
Under the program, 70 businesses in each Ward will receive Sh50, 000 in grants from the national government.
“The NYOTA program will transform the country significantly and for good. Many people think Sh50, 000 is not impactful enough but for someone who has stock of Sh10, 000 and benefits from this, it will greatly improve their business,” DP added.
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