Government has set aside shs 300m from Youth fund for fish cage farming.

Government has set aside shs 300m from Youth fund for fish cage farming.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

July 6, 2017.

THE Government through the Youth Enterprise Fund has set aside 300 million for fish caging project within Lake Victoria region.

Youth Enterprise Fund Chair Ronnie Osumba has said the Project will kick off this year in September.

Speaking in Kisumu during a session with 1000 youth from Kisumu County on issues of maintaining peace before, during and after the General Election, Osumba said the initiative targets the groups around various beaches along Lake Victoria.

He says the initiative will start with ten groups which will be financed through the funding.

The Youth Enterprise Fund Chair says the Groups which will be financed must be ready and willing to undertake the project.

“I want to state it here that the groups which will be financed through this initiative must be ready and willing to undertake this projects which will greatly help in uplifting their standards of living where they are,” he says.

Osumba says that it is very unfortunate that only a paltry 2.8 percent of the youth within Kisumu County are the ones who are engaged in the issue of fish farming.

“I am greatly shocked that only 2.8 percent of our youth in Kisumu County are the ones engaged directly on the issue of fish farming,” he says.

He says the program will help in keeping the members of the groups which will be funded busy as they will now be more engaged in meaningful activities which will make them earn some money for their livelihood.

Osumba at the time said the Youth Enterprise fund is normally allocated 3.5 billion every financial year for disbursement to the youth groups across the country but has been quick to point out that a number of youth group are still hesitant in applying to get the revolving funds.

“There is a lot of money we have in our kitty as the Youth Enterprise Fund for disbursement to the youth across the country but a number of our youth are still hesitant to apply for this revolving fund,” Osumba adds.

Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Enterprise Fund Josiah Moriasi urges the youth to apply for the funds to help them establish various business opportunities.

He says the most qualification for the application is to be a youth between 18 and 35 years.

Kisumu East Parliamentary Candidate on Jubilee Party ticket Joy Gwendo has also urged the youth to take advantage of the Youth Enterprise Fund and apply for it, saying they it has greater benefits.

Gwendo at the same urged the youth not to be misused by any politician during this electioneering period, adding that they should fully get engaged in meaningful activities which can help in improving their lives.

“As youth, I strongly urge you not to be used to cause chaos during this period of elections as this will not take you anywhere,” Gwendo says.

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