By Okong’o Oduya
Thirty Seven Women Groups in Busia County have joined hands to pull together resources that will drive development agenda in the County.
Generally women lag behind in development and it is through such kind of challenges these women have come together.
According to former cabinet minister Nickolas Biwott, women have been neglected politically undermining their efforts to fight for what is right for them constitutionally. He noted that women in the country deserve the best adding that it is high time for women to come up and fight what is rightful theirs in the community.
Talking during a forum that brought together 37 women groups from Busia County, Biwott urged women within the county to take the advantage of the border points to empower themselves economically by starting up businesses and projects that will help them be independent.
“You people are well placed in terms of business opportunities being that you are along the border, it allow you engage with people across Uganda in business without any hindrance since the law permits that. You can import what you need from Uganda and export what Ugandans want from you,” He said.
He insisted on unity among women and youths a move he said is the only way of fighting poverty in the county.
Mable Muruli who announced her intentions to unseat Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya noted that it is high time for women and youths across the county to unit and sell their development agenda to the public in order to get elective posts dominated by men.
She says women and youth have untapped potential to change this country and what is needed is for them to be given a chance. “We should no longer sit and wait for these positions on silver plate we have to soil our hands and get them to redeem ourselves,” she said.
On her side the host Zilper Bett said that there is need for women to be well informed the importance of investments to realize what is wrong and what is right. She urged the groups to join micro finances, Sacco’s and table banking to easily access loans to uplift their living standard.
“I urge all of you to maintain the table banking schemes you have and if not form or join one or join micro-finance and by doing so you will be able to access easy loans for your business,” she said.
More than two million KSH was raised to be distributed among the groups to promote their projects and business as well as bettering their living standards.
