Author: djadmin

Mombasa residents have hailed the Uwezo fund for improving their livelihoods through the provision of interest-free loans.

Anne Kahuya, a Person with a Disability (PWD) and a member of Tunaweza PWD Group, said through loans from Uwezo, they were able to create employment for members through business expansion.

‘We got a loan in 2018, rented a shop, and bought sewing machines. You won’t get PWDs begging on the roads,’ said Kahuya, adding that through the sewing machines, members were taught tailoring.

She urged persons with disabilities to form groups and apply for the Uwezo Fund because it is interest-free instead of begging while there is a government fund to start businesses.

Thima Mwinyi, a member of Golden Mothers from Jomvu constituency, said their group was formed by young mothers as a merry-go-round group. They first took out a loan of Sh100,000 and invested in event equipment for hire.

They later took a loan of Sh300,000 and shared part of it among members to start small businesses. Mwinyi encouraged beneficiaries of Uwezo to hasten the repayment of loans so that other groups could also benefit.

Khamis Karisa, Chairman of Mombasa WhatsApp Youth Group, urged youths to take up the loans to create businesses instead of lamenting on lack of job opportunities. The group purchased a Tuk-Tuk to generate income.

Richard Ruoti, a Youth Officer said the fund has been in existence for close to eight years now. Officers from the fund traverse all six constituencies in Mombasa to sensitise youths on the fund application.

‘The lowest amount a group can get is Sh50, 000, but if a proposal is well written, they can get up to Sh100, 000 as their first loan. The loanees are given a six-month grace period; repayment is after 24 months,’ said Ruoti.

He added that the Uwezo fund doesn’t have an application fee or processing fee and is interest-free.

‘It’s a fund aimed at encouraging groups to be self-sustainable. It’s a bottom-up economic enhancement programme aimed at uplifting people at the bottom of the pyramid,’ said Ruoti.

Ruoti noted that although some groups have challenges in repaying disbursed loans, he encourages them to repay the loans for other groups to benefit.

Since inception, the Uwezo Fund has disbursed more than Sh7.2 billion and directly supported 1,124,221 beneficiaries in the area, with 69 per cent being female and 31 per cent male, through the provision of affordable and accessible credit, capacity building on entrepreneurship skills, the basics of bookkeeping and market linkages, and networking.

The absorption rate in the local constituencies stands at 107.5 per cent, with Sh1.5 billion having been invested. More than 125 million cumulatively has been disbursed to groups in Nyali, Mvita, Kisauni, Jomvu, Changamwe, and Likoni in Mombasa County.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Eldoret City Marathon organising committee, working closely with the sponsors, particularly the Gulf Royal, has included people with disabilities in their efforts to fight climate change in line with their theme, Climate Action.

A special needs student at Eldoret Special School present an item they made to the Eldoret Marathon Director Moses Tanui (Right). Photo by Ekuwam Sylvester.

The team initiated a tree planting campaign at the Eldoret Special School for the Intellectually Impaired on Friday as a way to educate them about ways of combating climate change.

Speaking during the event, Eldoret City Marathon Director Mr. Moses Tanui lauded the sponsors for taking part in the noble initiative of tree planting for climate action as he reiterated the need to involve the Eldoret Special School for the Intellectually Impaired in greening the environment to ensure a clean atmosphere.

The director was impressed by the abilities demonstrated by the learners with multiple disabilities through the items they could make, like beadwork, weaving baskets, tailoring, and many others.

He added that there was need for the public and other stakeholders to recognise and value the abilities of the disabled learners and come in to help them in terms of learning resources and other needs like food, clothing, and many more.

The director commended the school administration and assured them that the marathon and working together with other partners will aid in providing learning resources and other requirements to facilitate a better learning environment.

‘Our theme is climate action, and this is what we are doing in a special school. We also have special hearts in the marathon that will continue supporting the school. We have seen that these special people need special attention, and this is what we are doing today as we plant trees to set a good example as Eldoret City Marathon,’ said Mr. Tanui.

‘We will continue to support the special learners in acquiring the materials required for them since their learning is mainly practical and requires a lot of support for materials,’ he added.

The marathon team and partners gifted the school with food items and learning materials.

In her remarks, School Board Chair Sophia Gachanja, who is a nurse at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), which partnered with the school in terms of giving the children medical attention, termed the initiative a noble course of making the environment clean.

‘This is something unique because many people in this area of Uasin Gishu and outside know little about this special school, with students with multiple disabilities-not one, not two-they don’t talk, they don’t walk, and some have many other issues which are so difficult to deal with,’ she explained.

On his part, the Eldoret Special School for the Intellectually Impaired Head Teacher, Mr. David Yegon, acknowledged the initiative, which involved the learners in planting trees, upon which, after school, they will continue planting them at home for the benefit of future generations.

‘Today they planted trees, and they will grow; no one will know it was planted by a child with a disability. The same will also be done at home. We are doing this in order to embrace the government policy of planting trees every year,’ he said.

He called on continued collaboration with partners to help the children grow and develop survival skills so that they can be independent when they finish school.

He further hinted that the community tends to neglect such people with disabilities, leaving them helpless and poor.

‘You are our partners; these children need us in order to develop; the moment we forget them, we are doing something against them. We invite you to work together with us to do something more, so that the world may know that despite their condition, disability is not inability,’ added Yegon.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Federal Government of Somalia has brought 16 victims with serious wounds from Beledweyne Truck bombing yesterday in the capital Mogadishu for further treatment after it airlifted from there overnight according to the officials.

“We received the wounded from Beledweyne bomb blast tonight at the Mogadishu airport, currently working to deal with the injuries for them to get treatment . We take special responsibility for their health care. We stand together and continue to eradicate this horrible AS”, Deputy Minister of Health of Federal Government, Dr. Mohamed Hassan said.

Members from the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Somali Disaster Management Agency and Benadir regional authorities received the victims at Mogadishu Airport.

Al-Shabaab terrorists is committed to kill all the Somali people and it is better for us to kill them before they kill us”, Abdinasir Shirwac, member of the Federal Parliament said, while receiving the victims at Mogadishu Airport midnight.

Al-Shabaab militants carried out deadly attack on residential and business areas including two petrol stations, inflicting heavy casualties on civilians and mass destruction of properties and homes according to the regional authorities.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, HE Hamza Abdi Barre delivered a powerful speech at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s progress on security, counterterrorism efforts, financial reform, social development, and combating corruption.

The Prime Minister pointed out the victories of Somalia’s armed forces in liberating 45% of the country from terrorist militants and the determination of the local residents to remove the terrorist group from their lands.

Prime Minister Hamza called for the UN Security Council to lift the three-decade-long arms embargo so that the Somali National Army can defeat the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab and take full control of the nation.

He emphasized the importance of global action, highlighting Somalia’s susceptibility to climate change and underscoring the need for international assistance.

Moreover, the Prime Minister urged reform in international institutions to promote development and financial stability.

Source: Somali National News Agency

Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan held discussions with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, in New York on Sunday.

President Ramkalawan is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

According to a press release from State House, President Ramkalawan and Sheikh Nahyan Al Nahyan spoke about the ways that Seychelles and the UAE “can continue to foster and develop mutual relations, whilst continuing to strengthen cooperation in various fields, and supporting the common interests of both peoples.”

Furthermore, Ramkalawan “acknowledged and extended his gratitude to the UAE for the continuous support to the Seychellois nation particularly in its contribution towards the socio-economic development of the country.”

During the meeting, they reviewed key projects in Seychelles such as the West Coast Road, the Drug Rehabilitation Centre, the IECD Centre, the Anse Royale Sports Complex and the Barbarons Housing project.

Source: Seychelles News Agency