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Thika traders receive Sh4m boost from Uwezo Fund

Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 17:15 | By

As the government now puts its focus on jump-starting an economy weighed down by Covid-19, various business groups in Thika, Kiambu County have received a major boost to recoup from shockwaves experienced during the pandemic. 

The 32 business-oriented groups got Sh 4 million Uwezo Fund boost which will go a long way in helping them recover their crippled businesses. The groups, majority of which are start-ups, got between Sh. 100,000 and Sh. 200,000. 

Led by Tabitha Wanjiru, who represented Chania well-wishers’ group and which engages in poultry farming, the young investors said the financial boost will help them expand their business thereby making more profits. 

According to Pauline Wanjiru Ndung'u, the representative of Purples Self-help group from Kiandutu slums, since they started receiving the funds, their businesses have flourished thereby increasing employment opportunities. 

The group which deals with tents and chairs which are hired during events alongside a table banking system has continued to scale it's heights buying new equipment for hire annually. 

“We have continued to buy more tents and chairs for hire during events which comes with creation of more jobs to those we hire to work with us,” said Wanjiru.  

While disbursing the cheques, Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina decried low uptake of the various government funds by various persons and which are meant to improve the standards of living of citizens. 

While a section of the groups that have been benefiting from the fund continue to thrive, the MP lamented that locals have been barely utilizing half of the funds allocated to them annually, adding that this year, Sh 7 million had been set aside for Uwezo kitty but only Sh 4 million has been absorbed. 

“Am urging our people here to align themselves with beneficial government opportunities in a bid to get financial grants to grow their own businesses especially now that most of them have been grappling with adverse socio-economic challenges precipitated by Covid-19,” he said. 

He called on the youth to form groups and apply for the money, saying they had a lot of energy to invest in profitable activities.

 At the same time, the legislator encouraged groups to develop a savings culture even if it was saving Sh100 per day saying the move would boost their bargaining power and assist them to grow and invest in improved investment opportunities.

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