The government has decried what it says is a low uptake of credit facilities.

The absorption of devolved credit funds was extremely low in Busia County, said Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Principal Secretary Susan Mangeni.

Mangenio was speaking at an event on the Fourth Medium-Term Plan in Busia town on Friday.

“The Youth Fund has been around for almost 15 years, but if you look at the money which has been disbursed in Busia alone, it is less than Sh100 million,” she said, adding that Sh15 billion has been disbursed across Kenya.

Mangeni added that the Uwezo Fund, which has existed for about nine years, reflects a dismally uptake in Busia, with only Sh90 million disbursed.

She said the Hustler Fund, launched one year and a half ago, has disbursed Sh120 million in Teso South, Sh110 million in Teso North, Sh150 million in Matayos, Sh100 million in Butula, Sh100 million in Funyula, Sh70 million in Nambale, and Sh60 million in Bunyala sub-counties.

“The repayment rate is, however, good, with Teso South standing at 73 percent, Teso North at 73 percent, Matayos at 78 percent, Funyula at 73 percent, Nambale at 76 percent, Butula at 73 percent and Budalangi at 77 per ent,” she said.

Credit score

Some 10,000 Kenyans borrow at least Sh50,000 daily, she said, and the government plans to ensure that they have access to more funds without providing title deeds as they have a good credit score.

“We have to rally the residents of Busia to apply for these credit facilities,” she told government administrators, adding that this will help eradicate poverty and ensure equitable development across the ounty.

Mangeni thanked the county government for clearing the Busia-Korinda road, adding that investors will have an easy way of dualling the road to the One Stop Border Post facility.

Youth Affairs, Sports  and the Arts  Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba assured residents that the government is committed to fulfilling all its campaign promises. Namwamba added that the government had embarked on building the Port Victoria Coast Guard facility with a view to enhancing security on Lake Victoria and reducing harassment of Kenyan fishermen by the Ugandan authorities.