Taita Taveta County in partnership with Village Enterprise has officially launched its first-ever Poverty Alleviation Policy, a move aimed to tackle the persistent socio-economic challenges affecting the residents.
In a ceremony held at Dan Mwazo Hall in Voi on Friday, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo together with the Chief Government Relations Officer for Village Enterprise, Taddeo Muriuki launched the policy which was developed by the county government and launched in collaboration with Village Enterprise, a non-governmental organization focused on poverty reduction.
The policy’s objective is to support vulnerable groups within the county, including youth, women, and people living with disabilities, by fostering self-employment and income-generating opportunities.
Kilalo acknowledged the absence of a dedicated poverty alleviation policy in the past as a hindrance to combating poverty effectively. She noted that this comprehensive approach aims to reduce the long-standing effects of marginalization that have kept many residents in poverty.
The Deputy Governor highlighted various challenges including climate change, water scarcity which has intensified human-wildlife conflicts, and inadequate infrastructure, particularly poor roads, which hinder farmers’ transportation activities.
“Lack of sufficient clean water for both the residents and livestock has been a major contributor to poverty in this county. As a county government, we have good plans on water but lack of funds has been a major setback,” she explained.
She further cited lack of title deeds to majority of the residents as a barrier to economic stability in the county.
Kilalo appealed to both the national and county governments to address these critical areas to improve poverty alleviation outcomes, emphasizing that the policy will enable access to soft loans, entrepreneurship training, and small business support, designed to empower local communities and stimulate economic growth.
“Many of our people have faced barriers to economic stability due to issues such as limited access to employment and basic resources. This policy represents a structured approach to create sustainable livelihoods, reduce poverty levels, and tackle the root causes that have held our communities back,” she added.
Kilalo encouraged the residents to adopt a proactive mindset towards poverty eradication urging everyone to play a part in fostering a more prosperous Taita Taveta County.
Taddeo Muriuki, the Chief Government Relations Officer for the organization, expressed pride in the progress made so far and affirmed Village Enterprise’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with the county.
He noted that through pilot initiatives, Village Enterprise has already impacted 1,500 families in the region, equipping them with essential skills and resources to lift themselves out of poverty.
“I am happy that we have been able to work together, and this is just but a start. We want to see what else we can continue collaborating on so that we continue seeing the changes we desire,” said Muriuki.
“Already we have done some projects and we have seen the great benefits that have been achieved. With the policy in place, its now possible to budget and come up with projects that will help in alleviating poverty in our communities,” he added.
Muriuki emphasized that the policy’s implementation would further advance these efforts, providing a comprehensive framework to support the most vulnerable residents.
He also encouraged stakeholders and residents to support and actively engage with the policy to foster community development.
The policy also addresses several pressing challenges unique to Taita Taveta County, including high unemployment, climate-related hardships, limited agricultural land, and water scarcity, human-wildlife conflicts, lack of land title deeds, and poor infrastructure which have compounded the difficulties faced by residents.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Sports, Gender, and Social Services Shedrack Mutungi highlighted that these systemic challenges necessitated the formation of partnerships to fund and implement poverty alleviation initiatives.
Mutungi noted that financial constraints led the county government top seek external partnerships to fund poverty alleviation initiatives.
“The county government had no funds and therefore, we had to get out and look for partnerships one of which you are seeing here today,” said Mutungi.
He emphasized the county’s commitment to creating a structured policy framework that will enable all partners to operate efficiently in poverty alleviation programs.
On his part, Voi Senior Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Nduti highlighted the national government’s support for the county’s anti-poverty efforts, including reinforcing local security.
He encouraged residents to prioritize food security by storing rather than selling their harvests at low prices, adding that actions undermining these efforts like the sale of illicit brews, must be discouraged.
“During harvesting season, let’s keep our food. Let’s avoid this habit of selling food at a throwaway price. Try as much as you can to have food in your house,” he said adding, “Let’s do legal businesses. Depending on illegal businesses like selling of illicit brews will never help us in alleviating poverty.”
Nduti also acknowledged the role of the new policy in creating pathways for sustainable income and fostering a collaborative environment where the county and residents work together to achieve long-term improvements.
With the Poverty Alleviation Policy now in place, Taita Taveta County leaders are optimistic that the plan will catalyze a transformative journey towards improved livelihoods for all residents of Taita Taveta.
