The People ­ Tuesday
Date: 19.01.2016
Page 16
Article size: 492 cm2
ColumnCM: 109.33
AVE: 137978.66
Women Fund has loaned
out Sh7.3b at grassroots
At inception almost 10years ago, the
Women Enterprise Fund was touted as
game changer by giving women access
business capital But what has it achieved
far? People Daily's NASIBO KABALE
to the Women Enterprise Fund Advisory
Board chairperson Mumina Bonaya on
progress made. Excerpts:
QUESTION: How much has
QUESTION: How much has
the Fund been allocated since
the Fund been allocated since
inception and how many
inception and how many
Awareness creation is also
women have benefitted?
done through vernacular radio
women have benefitted?
ANSWER: Exchequer dis­
bursements were Sh3 billion
since inception in 2007 and in
ANSWER: Exchequer dis­
bursements were Sh3 billion
since inception in 2007 and in
awareness in barazas jointly
organised by local leadership.
stations.
Q. It is often perceived that
awareness in barazas jointly
organised by local leadership.
Awareness creation is also
done through vernacular radio
stations.
Q. It is often perceived that
these funds are intertwined
with some sort of bureau­
the last FY 2014/15 the fund
these funds are intertwined
the last FY 2014/15 the fund
received Shl68 million only.
with some sort of bureau­
received Shl68 million only.
The total disbursement to date
cracy. How are women able to
cracy?
The total disbursement to date
stands at Sh7.36 billion, reach­
break that chain of bureau­
stands at Sh7.36 billion, reach­
ing 1,151,645 beneficiaries.
cracy?
A. We have simplified the
process of women accessing
these funds. They just need to
This shows that the revolv­
ing 1,151,645 beneficiaries.
This shows that the revolv­
ing fund concept has taken
ing fund concept has taken
root and the women benefi­
root and the women benefi­
ciaries have remained faithful
in paying the loans promptly.
ciaries have remained faithful
in paying the loans promptly.
The printed Budget Estimates
for the current 2015/16 finan­
The printed Budget Estimates
cial year is Sh523 million. If this
for the current 2015/16 finan­
amount is received in full, the
cial year is Sh523 million. If this
fund will reach approximately
A. We have simplified the
process of women accessing
these funds. They just need to
apply at the constituency level
through the WEF officer on the
ground. With the rollout of the
laptops to each constituency,
the loan details of a particular
group can be captured by the
cracy. How are women able to
break that chain of bureau­
apply at the constituency level
through the WEF officer on the
ground. With the rollout of the
laptops to each constituency,
the loan details of a particular
group can be captured by the
officer without the women
necessarily having to make
their way to the regional offices
to have their loan applications
processed. To hasten the pro­
amount is received in full, the
200,000 additional women by
officer without the women
fund will reach approximately
June.
necessarily having to make
tee decided to meet once every
their way to the regional offices
to have their loan applications
month and this has greatly im­
proved the turnaround time,
and women are able to get
their cheques every month.
Applicants are also able to send
200,000 additional women by
June.
Q. If you are trying to reach
the women at the grassroots
who have little or no access
to information, how do loans
trickle down to their level?
Q. If you are trying to reach
the women at the grassroots
who have little or no access
to information, how do loans
processed. To hasten the pro­
trickle down to their level?
cess further, the loans commit­
A. We have sensitisation pro­
grammes at grassroots level
tee decided to meet once every
month and this has greatly im­
conducted by our regional
staff, mainly the volunteers,
proved the turnaround time,
and women are able to get
cess further, the loans commit­
an SMS to a short code service
and query the stage of loan
processing or loan status.
Q. In your assessment,
A. We have sensitisation pro­
grammes at grassroots level
who understand the local
their cheques every month.
women and is there a mea­
conducted by our regional
staff, mainly the volunteers,
language. For the visually and
speech impaired women, the
Applicants are also able to send
suring tool to ascertain the
who understand the local
language. For the visually and
speech impaired women, the
fund engages translators in
case there is need.
We place notices in stra­
tegic locations; for example,
local churches and market
fund engages translators in
case there is need.
We place notices in stra­
tegic locations; for example,
an SMS to a short code service
and query the stage of loan
processing or loan status.
has the WEF created jobs for
number?
A The fund collects and doc­
uments success stories from
Q. In your assessment,
local churches and market
has the WEF created jobs for
places, where our staff create
women and is there a mea­
suring tool to ascertain the
awareness in barazas jointly
organised by local leadership.
Awareness creation is also
done through vernacular radio
stations.
Q. It is often perceived that
these funds are intertwined
with some sort of bureau­
cracy. How are women able to
break that chain of bureau­
cracy?
A. We have simplified the
process of women accessing
these funds. They just need to
apply at the constituency level
through the WEF officer on the
ground. With the rollout of the
laptops to each constituency,
the loan details of a particular
group can be captured by the
number?
A The fund collects and doc­
officer without the women
necessarily having to make
places, where our staff create
their way to the regional offices
to have their loan applications
processed. To hasten the pro­
cess further, the loans commit­
tee decided to meet once every
month and this has greatly im­
proved the turnaround time,
and women are able to get
their cheques every month.
Applicants are also able to send
uments success stories from
an SMS to a short code service
and query the stage of loan
processing or loan status.
Q. In your assessment,
has the WEF created jobs for
women and is there a mea­
suring tool to ascertain the
number?
A The fund collects and doc­
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The People ­ Tuesday
Date: 19.01.2016
Page 16
Article size: 492 cm2
ColumnCM: 109.33
AVE: 137978.66
North Horr ­ Sh1.8 million
¦ Laisamis ­ Sh2.3 million
¦ Saku ­ Sh8.6 million
¦ Moyale­ 5.35 million
¦ Isiolo South ­ Sh7.2 million
¦ Isiolo North ­ Sh25.3 million
¦ Mandera South ­ Sh3.85
million
• Mandera North ­ Sh7.35 mil­
lion
¦ Fafi ­ Sh3.55 million
Chairperson of Women Enterprise Fund Mumina Bonaya
during the interview with the People Daily in Nairobi.
• Lafey ­ Sh250,000
PHOTO: AYUBMUIYURO
¦ Ijara­Sh11.25 million
our beneficiaries. The num­
formative effects has it pro­
ber of people employed by the
women entrepreneurs is evi­
dence that direct jobs are cre­
duced?
ated for women. In addition,
lion women, effectively chang­
ing their livelihoods. Our suc­
that WEF does not require any
security for the loans we offer
cess stories indicate that our
and, therefore, the issue of fear
beneficiaries are better able to
of property being attached
provide for their families as a
result of their business growth.
Q. A recent study revealed
doesn't arise. Borrowers are
these women entrepreneurs
source for locally­produced
inputs, therefore creating in­
direct jobs for others.
Q. How do you ensure the
deserving people get the
loans?
A. WEF has made sure that
our officers are competitively
recruited to ensure we get the
very best. The loans commit­
tee ensures that deserving
people and also marginalised
constituencies receive the
loans—we have managed to
focus on areas with low uptake
and the marginalised areas to
ensure that women from those
areas also benefit. Lastly, we
have a very robust complaints
mechanism if they feel that any
officer is marginalising them.
Q. What is the impact of
WEF and just what trans­
¦ Daadab ­ Sh5 million
A. We have disbursed Sh7.36
billion to more than one mil­
that women identified the
loan sizes they received and
lack of financial management
skills as some of the impedi­
ments to their business suc­
cess and growth, with many
shying away out of fear of
their property being attached
to pay back the loans. What
are you doing about that?
A. The fund has progres­
sive lending cycles that allow
our beneficiaries to grow over
time. In addition, these lend­
ing cycles have been reviewed
such that the progression
is now up to Sh500,000 per
group. It is important to note
also taken through an inten­
sive entrepreneurship training
before accessing the funds.
Q. The fund falls under the
Devolution ministry, which
has been in the limelight for
all the wrong reasons. Can you
say that you are clean from all
the corruption and how do
you stay away from it all?
A. It is simply owed to the
fact that we stick to the man­
date, which is empowering
women and we get support
from the ministry. It is un­
fortunate that some negative
things have happened but we
only have women's best inter­
est at heart and that is why we
remain successful.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya