By Habil Onyango
Homa Bay women are set to benefit from a grant from Eliud Owalo’s Foundation, aimed at forming eight Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).
This follows a sensitisation and capacity-building workshop held for 52 women group leaders from all 40 wards at a hotel in Homa Bay Town.
According to Tabitha Nyandiek, who coordinated the initiative, the training focused on the procedures and benefits of forming cooperative societies, as well as community-driven strategies for financial empowerment.
“The initiative is part of Eliud Owalo’s Foundation Women’s Empowerment Agenda, which is grounded in the belief that empowering women uplifts families, educates children, raises household incomes, and transforms communities,” she stated.
Nyandiek, who vied for the Homa Bay Woman Representative seat in 2022, emphasised her commitment to fulfilling her promises to women during her campaign.
“We have been making promises to our women, and I must deliver on those promises through this initiative,” she said.
“Hon. Eliud Owalo has always supported our women through his Foundation, and I am happy that he has agreed to assist the women of Homa Bay,” she added.
According to Nyandiek, the initiative aims to support women with low incomes who struggle to secure capital for their businesses.
“Some of our businesswomen lack even five thousand shillings to start their businesses. This initiative will benefit them and enable them to feed their children, pay school fees, and more,” she explained.
“Our able leader, Owalo, has agreed to support the initiative by helping our women form eight SACCOs within Homa Bay,” she continued.
Pamella Ouma from Kabondo Kasipul Constituency urged all women in Homa Bay to join the initiative, assuring Owalo that he would not be disappointed.
“We are aware of some previous SACCOs that have formed and collapsed, but as women leaders, we promise to use this initiative to empower our women, not to enrich a few individuals for personal gain,” she said.
Rose Ang’iro from Rachuonyo North Sub-county mentioned that since many women are not economically stable, the initiative will help uplift them.
“We have received training on pre-cooperative concepts, including the by-laws and requirements for forming a cooperative society. This will empower our women economically once they join the society,” she noted.
“We are grateful to the Foundation for covering our registration fees, and our primary task is to mobilise our community to join this initiative,” she added.
Both the Foundation and the women leaders pledged to collaborate closely in advancing women’s empowerment across Homa Bay.
The initiative is part of the Eliud Owalo Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Agenda, which is grounded in the belief that empowering women uplifts families, educates children, raises household incomes, and transforms communities.
