Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi to introduce 'boy-child empowerment programs'

Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi has announced plans to introduce nationwide financial empowerment programs she says will specifically target boys and young men.

Mrs Rigathi who spoke on Wednesday noted that the empowerment projects will be done in conjunction with the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCCO), towards giving young men financial freedom.

"As a government, we are very sure that we are going to partner with SACCOs and change the economy from the bottom, up. The bottom-up movement started from the cooperative movement, and these (SACCOs) are the answers to the future of Kenya; our youth, women, and vulnerable, and they also create a thriving and vibrant economy," said Mrs Rigathi.

The Second Lady said partnering with the cooperative societies would provide possible solutions to the problems of food security, access to affordable housing and other social issues.

Also present was the CEO of KUSCCO, George Ototo, who assured Mrs Rigathi of support from the cooperative movement in the projects that will be rolled out countrywide.

"We share in the vision of Her Excellency and her flagship projects, and we assure her of our support. At the structural level of SACCOs, we will create divisions strategically to empower the boy-child,” said Mr Ototo.

“We will also contribute towards the rehabilitation of the boy-child through sports activities and other goodies and push the boy-child towards more productive activities," he added.

The cooperative movement in Kenya has a membership of more than six million Kenyans and covers all sectors of the economy, which include finance, business, farming, and workers.