The Government, through the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, has released a Ksh1.5 billion grant as the first and second tranche to support affirmative action groups in the 47 counties on various programmes.
The funds will cover school bursaries for learners from needy and vulnerable households, as per the mandate of the National Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). The grants will cover first and second quarter of the 2023/2024 Financial Year.
Of the total amount, Ksh273 Million has been disbursed towards supporting bursaries and scholarships for 25,000 students to enable them access education opportunities and skills development.
The Fund has also disbursed Ksh413 Million towards supporting 2,000 registered affirmative action groups with the grants targeting socio-economic empowerment and value addition initiatives. The grants are meant to increase the disposable income levels for the beneficiaries for improved livelihoods through enterprise development.
Further, Ksh677 Million will cover countywide projects whose benefits will be available to a widespread cross-section of the local community residents in the 47 counties. On this, the Fund will support the prevention and response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence including through construction of GBV centres, gender reporting units in police stations; socio-cultural development including nurturing of talents; provision of water facilities and other social amenities meant to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Model.
To ensure continued interaction with the community, Ksh137 Million has been disbursed for civic education to sensitize the community on various government programmes and policies including procedures for accessing NGAAF funds and other devolved funds. The civic education forums are meant to ensure increased uptake of Government programmes and services.
Beneficiaries of the grants are those affirmative action groups who successfully made their applications and met the eligibility criteria for funding through NGAAF County offices in the 47 counties by the 31st October, 2023.
The Fund’s respective NGAAF County offices have already reached to the individual beneficiaries for immediate support.
The State Department is cognizant of the Government’s unwavering commitment to improving the livelihoods of the affirmative action groups and enhancing access to financial facilities and services. To this end, the State Department will ensure that all deserving individuals and groups are not left behind in the access to the NGAAF programmes and Services
ANNE WANG’OMBE
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY