Dr. Paul Otuoma

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 151 to 160 of 412.

• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Just to refresh the hon. Members of this House on the objectives of the Fund, as to why it was established: It was established in order to provide for loans for onward lending to youth enterprises, attract and facilitate investment in micro, small and medium enterprises, youth oriented commercial infrastructure that will be beneficial to the youth enterprises, to support the youth oriented micro and small and medium enterprises and develop linkages with large enterprises. It was also meant to facilitate marketing of products of services of youth enterprises both in domestic and international markets, provide business development services for ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, so far, the Treasury has allocated Kshs3.8 billion to this enterprise since it was founded in 2006, to date. The modes of disbursement for the funds have been through the constituency based development committees and through financial intermediaries. One of the key achievements of the Fund to date through the constituency based loans, Kshs735 million has been given out to over 18,000 youth enterprises and through financial intermediaries, Kshs4.6 billion has been given out to 129,000 youth enterprises. In total to date, over Kshs147, 000 youth groups or youth enterprises have benefited from the Fund with ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, some of the other achievements of the Fund so far since its inception is that it has supported over 1,800 youth enterprises to market their products abroad in very many different countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region, Egypt, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The Fund has also signed MoUs with several local authorities including the City Council of Nairobi, Murang’a and Meru county councils to come up with commercial infrastructure developments that are targeting youth enterprises. The Fund has also partnered with Kenyatta University (KU) at the Chandaria Business and Incubation ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: One of the core mandates of the Fund was also to train young people in entrepreneurship and, so far, over 200,000 youths have been trained in entrepreneurial skills. The Fund has also partnered with the Ministry of Co-operative Development to assist the youth to form savings and credit societies (SACCOs). So far, the Fund has facilitated 24 youth SACCOs to be formed. The Fund has also supported two business plan competitions where over 10,000 youth have participated. The issue of labour migration in this country has also been in the media, especially the issue of Kenyan migrant workers being mistreated ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: I am almost finishing, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just give me one minute. On that note, over Kshs150 million was disbursed to KUSCO out of which more than 95 per cent has already been disbursed out to the youth. I also want to tell the House that so far, we have over 37 financial intermediaries that we are dealing with. They are all on the youth website and they can be accessed. view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as one of the ways forward towards achieving or overcoming some of these challenges, my Ministry is in the process of developing the Youth Fund Policy and the Sessional Paper to anchor the Fund into the law. We are also reviewing the Fund’s mandate. We have also embarked on the process of re-drawing a new strategic plan. We have also instituted financial and managerial systems to make sure that the Fund, despite the challenges, is able to deliver. I want to conclude by reassuring this House, the taxpayers and the youths of this country that the ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, hon. Shebesh wanted to know about the Enablis issue. This issue came up when the Fund had just been established. The Enablis was a Canadian firm that came up with a proposal to leverage with the Government that whatever shilling that the Government was putting into lending youth programmes, Enablis was going to put in another shilling. We must also realize that, that was just when the Fund was being established and setting up its systems. In the process of negotiation, the deal did not go through. This issue was brought to this House and it ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: I am urging my colleagues, Members of Parliament, to sensitize some areas and inform their people that they cannot continue to thrive on enterprise without taking loans. There are certain areas - especially where hon. Khalwale has just mentioned - and I happen to come from one of those areas – where the issue of taking loans has really been mystified by people who think that when you do not have a loan, you are doing very well. Yet, they have no capacity unless they inherit some money. You can only enterprise when you borrow. If you look at it ... view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on issue of allegations, which I mentioned about the Kenya Union of Savings and Credits Co-operatives (KUSCO), as I have said, I can table- -- I happen to have that document here. I can table all the procedures that were followed by KUSCO when they applied for the loan, just like any other entity. We have got 37 financial intermediaries that have done that. I think KUSCO, being an umbrella body, is one of the best that is currently doing very well in trying to address that. view
• 22 May 2012 in National Assembly: So, there is no scandal there. There is no issue there and I think as one of the hon. Members said, maybe, the Fund needs to seek redress on some of these issues. view