Maina Kamanda warns against misuse of Uwezo Fund

Kenya: Beneficiaries of the Sh6 billion Uwezo Fund have been warned against misusing money allocated to them to set up various development projects.

National Assembly Transport Committee Chairman Maina Kamanda, yesterday cautioned against the misuse of the money, which is being disbursed to youth, men and women groups across the country.

Within some constituencies, a special kitty for the disabled has also been incorporated within the fund.

“You must understand that the money is a loan. You need to repay it, before taking another loan,” said Mr Kamanda, who is also the Starehe MP. The constituency is among those that have a kitty for the disabled.

The MP was speaking in Kariokor Social Hall, Nairobi, when he distributed cheques worth Sh 5.78 million to various development groups in the six wards in the constituency.

More than 60 groups, out of the 120 that had applied for the fund in the constituency, are set to benefit.

The Uwezo kitty has been hailed as one of the key achievements of the Jubilee government, benefiting thousands of groups across the country.

Lack of awareness has, however, been blamed for the slow uptake of the fund, which was created from money that had initially been set aside for presidential run off.

Kamanda’s comments come in the wake of complaints in delays in release of the funds to various constituencies, and concerns that lack of awareness is keeping away potential beneficiaries. Misuse of the funds and lack of financial knowledge has also led to millions of money allocated to some groups across the country going down the drain.

“It is important that those who get the funds undergo financial training so that they know how to invest wisely. We would like people to get enough information so that they know how to access and also use the money,” the MP said