Taita Taveta: Taita Taveta County, in collaboration with Village Enterprise, has officially unveiled its inaugural Poverty Alleviation Policy, an initiative expected to address the ongoing socio-economic challenges facing the county’s residents. In an event held at Dan Mwazo Hall in Voi, Taita Taveta County, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo and Village Enterprise’s Chief Government Relations Officer, Taddeo Muriuki, rallied support for the initiative from various stakeholders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the document crafted by the County government with support from Village Enterprise aims to uplift the county’s vulnerable groups, such as youth, women, and people with disabilities, by promoting self-employment and income-generating activities. Deputy Governor Kilalo emphasized that the lack of a targeted poverty alleviation policy had hindered past efforts to combat poverty in the region effectively. She noted that this comprehensive approach is expected to address the persistent effects of marginalizat
ion that have kept many residents impoverished.
Kilalo highlighted several challenges faced by the County, including water scarcity, climate change, human-wildlife conflicts, and poor road infrastructure, which have hampered agricultural productivity and transportation for local farmers. She explained that the scarcity of clean water for residents and livestock has been a significant factor in the county’s poverty levels, and despite having well-thought-out plans for water provision, funding remains a major obstacle.
Kilalo pointed out that the lack of land title deeds poses a barrier to economic growth and stability in the region. She urged both the National and County governments to address these crucial issues, stressing that the new policy will help facilitate access to soft loans, entrepreneurial training, and support for small businesses, moves intended to empower local communities and drive economic growth.
Kilalo also encouraged residents to take an active role in poverty alleviation, urging a coll
aborative effort toward a more prosperous Taita Taveta County. Taddeo Muriuki expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far and reaffirmed Village Enterprise’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with the county government. He mentioned that pilot programs by Village Enterprise have already benefited 1,500 families in the region by providing essential skills and resources to support self-sufficiency.
Muriuki emphasized that the policy’s implementation will build on these initial efforts, creating a structured approach to aid the county’s most vulnerable communities. He also encouraged residents and other stakeholders to actively participate in the policy’s initiatives to drive community growth and development. The policy addresses several pressing challenges specific to Taita Taveta, including high unemployment, climate-induced hardships, limited land for agricultural activities, water shortages, human-wildlife conflicts, lack of title deeds, and inadequate infrastructure, which have exacerbated res
idents’ struggles.
County Executive Committee Member for Youth, Sports, Gender, and Social Services, Shedrack Mutungi, noted that these inherent challenges required partnerships to secure funding and implement poverty reduction programs. He emphasized the County’s dedication to establishing a structured policy framework to enable all partners to efficiently contribute to poverty alleviation.
Voi Senior Deputy County Commissioner, Daniel Nduti, commended the National government’s support of the county’s anti-poverty measures, including efforts to enhance local security. He advised residents to focus on food security by storing rather than selling their harvests at low prices and discouraged illegal activities, including the sale of illicit brews, which he said undermines poverty alleviation efforts.
With the launch of this Poverty Mitigation Policy, Taita Taveta leaders hope the initiative will significantly improve the livelihoods of residents across the County.