About 80 groups of women, youth, persons with disabilities and widows in Mumias West Sub-County have received Sh4 million in grants to support income-generating activities and improve their livelihoods.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said the funds, disbursed at Wang’nyang in Etenje Ward, were intended to help vulnerable residents establish or expand small businesses and other income-generating projects.

Barasa said his administration was committed to ensuring that all residents, including vulnerable groups, benefit from county development programmes and have access to opportunities that can improve their economic wellbeing.

“We made a pledge to advance inclusivity in Kakamega County, not only in access to financial support, but across every sphere of opportunity,” Barasa said during the disbursement ceremony.

The Sh4 million is part of the county government’s Sh60 million Social Protection Grants Programme, which targets 1,200 groups across Kakamega County.

The programme seeks to provide financial support to organised groups of women, youth, persons with disabilities and widows to enable them to undertake projects that generate income and strengthen household livelihoods.

Barasa urged the beneficiaries to use the grants prudently and ensure that the projects they establish or expand benefit all members of their respective groups.

He said supporting vulnerable groups would help more families increase their incomes, improve their living standards and achieve greater economic independence.

The governor said the county government would continue implementing programmes aimed at improving the welfare of women, youth, persons with disabilities and widows.

He noted that providing financial assistance to organised groups would enable beneficiaries to participate more actively in economic activities while contributing to the development of their communities.

The beneficiaries are expected to invest the grants in viable projects capable of generating sustainable income for their groups.

Barasa said the county’s commitment to inclusive development extended beyond financial support to ensuring that residents from different sections of society had opportunities to participate in development initiatives.

The Social Protection Grants Programme is part of the county government’s wider efforts to strengthen social and economic support for vulnerable residents across Kakamega County.

The governor encouraged the groups to work together, manage the funds responsibly and focus on projects that can provide lasting economic benefits to their members.

The disbursement in Mumias West forms part of the countywide rollout of the Sh60 million programme, which is expected to benefit 1,200 groups.

County officials said the initiative is designed to support vulnerable households by strengthening community-based economic activities and helping beneficiaries build sustainable sources of income.

 by John Ochanda