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{
    "id": 976511,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/976511/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ainamoi, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Sylvanus Maritim",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13289,
        "legal_name": "Sylvanus Maritim",
        "slug": "sylvanus-maritim"
    },
    "content": "We kept on encouraging our youth that the Uwezo Fund is going to change their lives. We made them believe in us but, as we speak sadly from my constituency, three years down the line, I have not even issued a single cheque from the Uwezo Fund. The Fund has largely failed because of a number of reasons. One, it is largely believed that Uwezo Fund was a political gift. It is believed that it is a grant. It is believed that it is given out for free and you are not supposed to pay it back. Two, there are no clear structures or regulations to guide the disbursement, usage and recovery of the funds. Just like a bank account, I do not expect to open a bank account today and qualify for a loan the next day. Sadly, for Uwezo Fund, we know of groups that were formed and within a week, they benefited from the same money. It has been a challenge recovering that money because there was no due diligence on whether such groups were in a position to pay back. Three, you cannot form such a fund and deny it an administrative vote to pay back. Uwezo Fund is under the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs. It should have been structured in such a manner that it has its own staff over and Uwezo Fund committees. The Uwezo Fund committees are not even drawing their sitting allowances. It has been a challenge requesting them to move around to recover the loans. In my opinion, we ought to have set aside about 5 per cent of the Fund to go into administrative issues. Four, there was no capacity building and mentorship before issuing the funds. In my opinion, we ought to have carried out capacity building to various groups to demonstrate that they are willing and able to engage in a business activity that will generate money and as such, be in a position to pay back. Finally, part of the reasons why we have been unable to recover those loans is because Kenyans have gotten into so many mobile loans. It has been hectic to recoup the loans that have already been disbursed. If we implement this Report, I hope youths are going to benefit from the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}