SHOFCO invests over Ksh.450 million in Kisumu community development projects

Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has invested more than KSh450 million in community development programmes across Kisumu County, targeting improved access to water, education, youth employment and business opportunities.

SHOFCO Chief Executive Officer Dr Kennedy Odede said the organisation had spent KSh50 million constructing 60 water pans to improve access to water for domestic use and other livelihood activities.

The organisation has also invested KSh160 million in supporting girls' education, disbursed KSh95 million in low-interest loans to young entrepreneurs and committed resources to community-based development initiatives.

Odede said the investments were aimed at addressing challenges facing vulnerable communities while creating opportunities for residents to improve their livelihoods.

“We believe that lasting development begins when communities have the resources, skills and opportunities to shape their own future. Our investment in Kisumu is about helping young people earn a living, keeping girls in school, improving access to water and supporting communities to find solutions to the challenges they face,” said Odede.

He was speaking in Kisumu during the election of new leaders of the SHOFCO Urban Network (SUN), a community-led movement that mobilises residents to identify local challenges and advocate for improved service delivery.

Odede said SUN had more than 120,000 members in Kisumu County, providing residents with a platform to participate in development initiatives and engage government institutions on issues affecting their neighbourhoods.

He also revealed that SHOFCO had handled 12,000 gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the county, providing support to survivors as part of efforts to strengthen protection and access to justice.

In addition, the organisation has invested KSh30 million in supporting community-based organisations (CBOs) to implement development projects and provided another KSh30 million in grants to 400 young people to support income-generating activities.

More than 1,000 young people have also benefited from apprenticeship training aimed at equipping them with practical skills to improve their employment prospects or establish their own businesses.

Odede urged the newly elected SUN leaders to remain accountable to residents and prioritise issues affecting their communities.

“Community leadership is not about holding a title. It is about listening to people, understanding their challenges and organising them to take action. The leaders elected today must ensure that the voices of ordinary residents are heard and that development responds to their priorities,” he said.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Ochieng Owili commended SHOFCO for partnering with the county government and complementing its development programmes.

Owili said partnerships between county governments and community organisations were important in addressing challenges that required sustained investment and direct engagement with residents.

“Development becomes more meaningful when government works hand in hand with organisations that understand the realities of the communities they serve. SHOFCO has demonstrated the value of investing in people, and we appreciate its contribution to improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities for our residents,” he said.

He reaffirmed the county government's commitment to working with development partners to improve service delivery, support vulnerable households and expand opportunities for young people.

Owili added that community networks such as SUN were important in ensuring residents participated in identifying development priorities and holding institutions accountable.

One of the beneficiaries of SHOFCO's programmes is Perpetual Anyango, a resident of Obunga slums, who has benefited from the organisation's women’s empowerment initiative.

Anyango said the programme had equipped her with dressmaking skills, provided her with a start-up grant and offered business management training, enabling her to pursue self-employment.

She said the combination of practical training and financial support had helped her acquire not only a technical skill but also the knowledge needed to turn it into a sustainable business.

“Before this training, I had the desire to do something for myself, but I did not have all the skills and knowledge I needed. SHOFCO taught me dressmaking, gave me a grant to help me get started and showed me how to manage a business,” she said.

Anyango added that learning how to manage finances, serve customers and plan her business had been as important as acquiring dressmaking skills.

“Having a skill is one thing, but knowing how to turn it into a business is another. I now understand that I can use what I have learned to earn an income, support my family and build something that belongs to me. That is the kind of opportunity that gives a woman confidence and hope for the future,” she said.