By Alloys Musyoka
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has directed all 10 County devolved functions, including Health services, Agriculture, Education, Social Services, and Roads, to award development project contracts exclusively to women and youth registered companies in a move that aims to tackle unemployment and reduce poverty levels across the County.
These contracts cover projects such as the construction of dispensaries, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers, expansion of water pipelines, and cleaning of urban areas, including Diani, Kwale, Kinango, and LungaLunga.
Achani says that over 300 women- and youth-led companies have been registered, with 105 receiving contracts for various County projects, including drilling of water boreholes, and supply of various government equipment.
“We have been building ECDE centers, dispensaries, roads, among other projects across the county, and that’s why we said women and youth should form companies. I’m thankful that the majority of these projects are being done by our local companies.” Says Achani.
The County boss adding that the issuing of County project tenders to women and youth companies has generated employment opportunities for hundreds of women and youths in Kwale.
“I have been telling people to form companies for self-employment. The county can no longer hire everyone, so we must find alternative ways to create employment opportunities.” Added Achani.
Some of the women and youth companies that have received tenders include Samburu-Chengoni Women Company, in Samburu ward, Khairat Women Limited Company, (Macknon), Waridi Young Mothers Limited Company (Ndavaya), Tunusuru Women Company (Ramisi), and Wyzata FC in Msambweni Sub County.
Riziki Mwasoza, Kwale County Chief Officer for Social Services and Talent Management, says that most of the county’s residents relied on farming, livestock rearing, fishing, and tourism for their livelihoods, but climate change severely affected these sectors, forcing residents to resort to small, informal jobs just to survive.
“Women and youth, in particular, face significant economic hardships despite being members of savings and credit groups (VSALAs). Through the issuance of tenders, we’ve helped our mothers break free from the chains of being mere housewives.” Says Mwasoza.
Sale Makata and Sophia Mohammed from Pamvan Women Investment Company Limited in Vanga, LungaLunga Sub County, explain how the situation was before and after they were awarded a tender to supply food staff to the Kombani drug rehabilitation center worth 1.4 million.
“When we were on VSALAs, we could save the whole year and end up having little savings, unlike today, where we can make a million plus in just one tender.” Says Makata.
Governor Achani’s directive to award project contracts to women and youth marks a new economic chapter, as Hussein Chigulu confirms.
“We at Mackinnon Road CBO decided to form our own company. We’re thankful, this is our first project. We’re now responsible for pipeline extension up to the Vinyunduni areas. We are now earning our own money and educating our children.” Says Chigulu
As the County continues to empower women and youth through the issuance of County Project contracts to registered local companies, Achani urges youth, women, and people living with disability to register more companies to secure tenders from both the government and private sector.
