Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has launched a KSh 15 million empowerment initiative aimed at uplifting juakali artisans and women groups in Kisumu Central Constituency. The funds were disbursed through cheques and essential equipment, including car wash machines and toolkits for women mechanics, as part of a broader push to revitalize the county’s informal sector.
Speaking at the Kisumu Juakali yard on Saturday during the official distribution, Ruth emphasized the importance of self-reliance and sustainability in the sector.
“These equipment—from car wash machines to toolkits for lady mechanics; are meant to help you generate sustainable income. My office is committed to ensuring such programs benefit you every financial year,” said Odinga.
The empowerment program specifically targets small-scale industries with a deliberate focus on women, especially those entering traditionally male-dominated fields.
“We must break barriers. These toolboxes for women mechanics prove that skill has no gender preference,” she added.
The event also brought to light growing tensions over land ownership surrounding the juakali hub, where sections of land under the Kenya Railway Corporation have reportedly been leased to private developers, threatening the displacement of hundreds of artisans.
Edward Onyango, popularly known as Bob CEO and a 2027 parliamentary aspirant for Kisumu Central, led the call for intervention.
“Madam Odinga, we need an inclusive stakeholders’ meeting with the Kenya Railway Corporation to save livelihoods. Hundreds of our youth face displacement,” Onyango appealed.
Ruth assured attendees of prompt action on the matter.
“I will engage the Principal Secretary for Lands to find a lasting solution. Our artisans deserve secure workspaces,” she pledged.
Beneficiaries of the initiative expressed gratitude, saying the equipment will significantly transform local enterprises, especially in the car washing industry, while also enhancing the financial independence of women entrepreneurs.
The empowerment drive is seen as a major step toward reinvigorating Kisumu’s informal economy, as it grapples with land pressure and youth unemployment.
