CS launches Ushanga Initiative projects

Loitoktok,

Friday, December 15, 2023

KNA by Kimani Tirus

Cabinet Secretary for Gender Culture, Arts and Heritage has launched Ksh 110 Million Ushanga initiative market projects in the Kajiado South sub-county.

The four market projects are aimed at supporting local women under the Ushanga Initiative program.

While commissioning the projects in Marlal Town, Loitoktok Sub County Gender CS Aisha Jumwa said the Ksh 110 million is from Chyulu Hills REDD+ program and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The CS further noted that the Ushanga Initiative program has 147 registered women cooperatives with about 168,000 members across 10 counties within pastoral communities.

She added that the program which is run by Ushanga Kenya Initiative (UKI) aims to uplift women living within pastoralist communities economically.

Jumwa hailed four group ranches in the Sub County for donating about 25 acres of land on which the projects are going to be erected.

The four projects will be markets for the beads products where buyers will be accessing the Ushanga products.

She further noted through the Ushanga Initiative program, women from pastoral communities will be economically empowered adding that the initiative is aligned well with the government's bottom-up economic model.

The CS observed that she is pushing for the UKI to be a full-fledged Semi-Autonomous Government Agency(SAGA) to be considered for government funding.

She also noted that she will ensure in the future budget funds are set aside for purchasing beads and other raw materials for the program as well as machines for manufacturing the Ushanga products.

Courtesy; KNA