Nothern Kenya receives biggest share in Sh5.3b Uwezo fund

By Isaac Meso

NAIROBI, KENYA: Constituencies from the Northern part of Kenya stand are the largest beneficiaries of the Uwezo fund once disbursed to Kenya's 290 constituencies.

Of the Sh5.3 billion uwezo fund earmarked for disbursement , Mandera  South is going to receive the biggest share of  Sh31.8 million followed by  Turkana  west constituency  at Sh29.4 million, Mandera North, Sh25. 5 million, Mandera  West, Sh 24.8million and Turkana north  receiving 24.3 million.

Having an estimated number of 226,935 poor people contribution of Mandera South constituency to national poverty stands at 1.29 percent making it the poorest among the 290 constituencies.

Wilfred Buyuma, the UWEZO fund acting CEO said that about 90 of the 290 constituencies will by the end of this week receive the first tranche of the fund.

“We are embarking on the first phase of the fund disbursement, we hope to release the first tranche by the end of this week, thereafter work on releasing the rest in the coming weeks” he said.

On the other hand the constituencies which were allocated the least  amount of the funds included Lamu east  which received  14.2 million, followed by  Makadara  which got Sh14.8million and  Starehe , Sh14.8 million.

Lamu east constituency with an estimated number of poor people at 4,638 contributes only 0.03 percent to the National poverty level according to a data report released by the Devolution and Planning ministry.

Some of the factors that were considered in allocation to the constituencies included area Population, poverty Headcount, and estimated number of poor people among others.

Buyuma also noted that once disbursed, the funds will be administered through the Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committees, modeled alongside the CDF framework in all the 290 constituencies.

The Acting CEO urged the youth, women and persons with disabilities to access funds in their respective constituencies through registered groups.

“It’s hard to dream big at first, and if the youth take small steps first., eventually they realise that forming groups increases their capacity to harness their business as opposed to operating a sole proprietorship” He said.

He also noted that Uwezo oversight Board was currently conducting training in all the 47 counties to boost the knowledge of youths and women about the funds and to also form groups that will ease their access to the fund.