Migori: More than 100 women and youth groups in Migori County have received assorted items worth Sh 12 million through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). Under the program named ‘Wezesha Mama, Inua Jamii’, the benefiting group members were all smiling as they lined up to receive their assorted items at the Migori Stadium.

According to Kenya News Agency, the donated items included plastic chairs, water tanks, sewing machines, posho mills, water pumps, mattresses, beauty equipment, and car wash machines, among others. This initiative by Kenyan women leaders aims to uplift women, youth, and marginalized groups through targeted empowerment programs.

Speaking during the event, Woman Representative Ms. Fatuma Mohamed, who hosted a delegation of women leaders, explained that the donated items were funded by the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) with additional support from President William Ruto. ‘These items have been partly funded by NGAAF and supplemented by contributions from President Ruto,’ she said.

Ms. Fatuma emphasized that the Wezesha Mama, Inua Jamii program is designed to promote economic independence, entrepreneurship, and skills development among women. ‘Our goal as women leaders is to pool resources to uplift women and foster inclusive, community-driven progress by addressing the root causes of socio-economic inequality,’ she added.

The event also highlighted the urgent need to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), femicide, and harmful social practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages. Ms. Fatuma described GBV and femicide as ‘national emergencies that demand a collective and sustained response.’

She stressed that tackling these issues is both a gender imperative and a civic responsibility essential for building a just, inclusive, and secure society. The women leaders called for greater tolerance and pledged continued support for initiatives that empower women.