Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited Busia County to lead a high-impact economic empowerment forum, focusing on boosting opportunities for women and SACCOs. The event underscored the government’s commitment to inclusive economic development.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki presided over the Busia County Economic Empowerment Forum for Women and Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) at Busia Polytechnic Grounds, an event aimed at bolstering grassroots economic development in Western Kenya. The forum, a continuation of Kindiki’s nationwide empowerment initiatives, underscored the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to uplifting women, youth, and small-scale traders through financial and policy support. Attended by local leaders, including Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo and area MPs, the event highlighted transformative projects in the region, such as fish landing sites and modern markets, aligning with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
This article explores the significance of the forum, its objectives, the broader context of Kindiki’s empowerment drives, and the implications for Busia County and Kenya’s economic landscape.
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The Busia County Economic Empowerment Forum brought together women groups, SACCOs, and small-scale traders to discuss strategies for economic growth and access to government support. Held at Busia Polytechnic Grounds, the event was a vibrant display of community engagement, with Deputy President Kindiki emphasizing the importance of empowering those at the base of the economic pyramid. Accompanied by key figures such as Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro, and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, Kindiki outlined the government’s achievements and ongoing initiatives to support micro and small enterprises (MSEs). His speech focused on the role of SACCOs in aggregating resources for women and traders, enabling them to scale their businesses and improve livelihoods.
Kindiki highlighted specific interventions in Busia County, including the completion of the Mulukhoba fish landing site, part of a broader effort to transform Beach Management Units (BMUs) into cooperative societies for enhanced economic impact. He noted that Sh3.2 billion in grants had been disbursed to 309 BMUs across the Lake Victoria shoreline counties, including Busia, to support fisherfolk and boost household incomes. Additionally, Kindiki announced plans to replicate the distribution of 425 small boats, already provided to Indian Ocean counties, in Busia and other Lake Victoria regions to enhance fishing capacity. These initiatives align with the government’s broader goal of fostering economic resilience through cooperative models.
Since assuming office as Deputy President in November 2024, following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, Kithure Kindiki has spearheaded a series of economic empowerment forums across Kenya, from Tana River to Kisii, Kiambu, and Taita Taveta. These forums are designed to complement national programs like the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET), which target youth and women empowerment. Kindiki’s approach emphasizes direct engagement with communities, dismissing criticisms that the forums are politically motivated campaigns. “The time to stand with the people is not during campaigns or on election day. It is now—when there are no elections,” he stated during a similar event in Taveta on July 3, 2025.
In Busia, the focus on women and SACCOs reflects the Kenya Kwanza administration’s recognition of these groups as critical drivers of grassroots economic growth. SACCOs, in particular, have been instrumental in providing affordable credit and savings opportunities for women and small-scale traders, enabling them to expand businesses and access markets. Kindiki’s presence in Busia builds on his earlier visits to the county, including a Sunday service in Amagoro on May 18, 2025, where he engaged with local communities on development priorities.
The Deputy President’s tours have also addressed regional disparities, with a particular emphasis on underdeveloped areas like Busia, which borders Uganda and relies heavily on cross-border trade and fishing. By focusing on women and SACCOs, the forum aimed to empower groups often marginalized in economic planning, ensuring they benefit from national resources. Kindiki’s consistent messaging against tribalism, reiterated in Busia, underscores his commitment to a unified Kenya, urging residents to reject divisive politics. “We are for one Kenya, one flag, one people,” he declared, echoing sentiments from his Tana River visit on July 2, 2025.
Busia County, part of the Lake Victoria shoreline, is a key player in Kenya’s Blue Economy. Kindiki highlighted the government’s investment of Sh3.2 billion in grants to BMUs across Busia, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, and Kisumu, transforming these units into cooperative societies to maximize economic benefits. The Mulukhoba fish landing site, completed in Busia, is part of a network of facilities aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving fishers’ earnings. Kindiki also announced plans for modern deep-sea fishing vessels, directed by President William Ruto, to enhance offshore fishing capacity, a move expected to benefit Busia’s fishing communities.
The forum emphasized the role of women and SACCOs in driving economic transformation. Kindiki noted that SACCOs provide a structured platform for women to access credit, save collectively, and invest in income-generating activities. The government’s NYOTA program, set to roll out in 2025, will provide Sh50,000 in working capital to 70 youth- and women-owned businesses per ward, including in Busia. This initiative aims to create jobs and expand small businesses, aligning with the BETA’s focus on grassroots empowerment.
Kindiki outlined the construction of 400 modern markets nationwide, with Busia set to benefit from facilities equipped with cold rooms, ICT hubs, and social halls. These markets aim to provide dignified working environments for traders, particularly women, and enhance access to regional and cross-border markets. Additionally, the government’s investment in last-mile electricity connectivity, with Sh1.8 billion allocated for 20,000 household connections in Busia and other counties, was highlighted as a catalyst for economic activity.
The forum addressed youth unemployment, a pressing issue in Busia, where many young people rely on informal sectors like boda boda and small-scale trade. Kindiki highlighted the Climate Works Mtaani Program, set to expand to Busia, which employs youth in environmental clean-up projects. The Affordable Housing Program, creating 250,000 jobs nationwide, was also cited as a key avenue for youth employment, with plans to scale to one million jobs in the coming years.
The Busia forum occurs amid heightened political tensions in Kenya, fueled by the Gen Z-led protests of June and July 2025, which criticized government policies and alleged human rights violations. Kindiki, a staunch defender of the Kenya Kwanza administration, used the forum to call for peace and national cohesion, warning against political incitement. “National security is more important than anything else. We will protect Kenya’s peace by all means necessary,” he stated, echoing his remarks in Taveta.
The event also served as a platform to counter opposition narratives, particularly from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has been accused of promoting tribal politics. Kindiki, alongside allies like Hassan Joho and Sylvanus Osoro, dismissed such criticisms as “cheap propaganda,” emphasizing the administration’s inclusive development agenda. The presence of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, a vocal government critic, added a layer of complexity, highlighting the need for dialogue across political divides.
Public sentiment on X reflects mixed reactions to Kindiki’s empowerment drives. Supporters praise his grassroots engagement, with one user noting, “Kindiki is doing what leaders should—being with the people, not just in campaigns.” Critics, however, argue that the forums are early campaign strategies for 2027, a charge Kindiki has consistently refuted.
The Busia County Economic Empowerment Forum has significant implications for the region and Kenya’s broader economic landscape. By focusing on women and SACCOs, the government is addressing systemic barriers to economic inclusion, particularly for women who dominate informal trade and fishing activities in Busia. The emphasis on cooperative societies aligns with global best practices, as seen in countries like Rwanda, where SACCOs have driven financial inclusion.
The forum also strengthens Busia’s role in cross-border trade with Uganda, leveraging its strategic location. Investments in fish landing sites and modern markets are expected to enhance the county’s economic competitiveness, attracting regional buyers and boosting local incomes. However, challenges remain, including the need for sustained funding and monitoring to ensure these initiatives deliver long-term benefits.
Nationally, Kindiki’s empowerment drives reinforce the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to BETA, positioning MSEs as the backbone of economic transformation. The focus on women and youth aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals of inclusive growth, but success will depend on effective implementation and transparency in resource allocation.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s attendance at the Busia County Economic Empowerment Forum on July 18, 2025, underscores the government’s commitment to uplifting women and SACCOs as key drivers of economic growth. Through investments in the Blue Economy, modern markets, and youth employment programs, the forum addressed critical needs in Busia while advancing the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Despite political criticisms, Kindiki’s engagement with grassroots communities highlights a shift toward inclusive development, with Busia poised to benefit from enhanced infrastructure and economic opportunities. As Kenya navigates a complex political landscape, such initiatives will be crucial in fostering unity and prosperity.
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