Some of the groups of women, youth, and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) who benefited from Kilifi County Wezesha Fund. Photo Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti
Kilifi County’s Wezesha Fund has pumped fresh life into small businesses, with over 100 groups of women, youth, and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) sharing Sh25 million in interest-free loans that are changing livelihoods across the county.
On Monday, 105 groups received the loans under the program run by the county government.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism and Culture, Raymond Ngala, said the fund disbursed Sh133 million last year and is now released monthly to ensure more residents benefit.
“We want to encourage people to venture into business and take up these loans so that we can create wealth for the people of Kilifi,” Ngala said.
Chief Officer for Trade Lynn Farrah said the initiative, initially known as the Mbegu Fund, was restructured to remove bottlenecks that limited access. She noted that repayment terms are flexible and that the fund has achieved a 90 percent repayment rate.
Several beneficiaries praised the program. Patrick Ngonyo, a butcher from Jilore Ward in Malindi Sub-County, said a Sh200,000 loan enabled him to establish a slaughterhouse supplying meat to 15 butcheries in Malindi town. He has since repaid his first loan and taken another.
In Ganze Sub-County, Maureen Pendo, who leads a 20-member women’s group, said they invested their loan in poultry farming and table banking. They have since cleared it and applied for a fresh one.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro said his administration’s goal is to drive economic transformation through the Wezesha Fund, adding that women’s groups are already processing maize and wheat flour.
“My goal is to leave a legacy of economic empowerment. Soon, our people will be competing with established brands,” he said.
