MSEA, in partnership with the Member of Parliament for Alego Usonga Constituency and Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Hon. Samuel Atandi, today held an economic empowerment forum in Siaya County to equip youth groups with common user machinery aimed at boosting their productivity, incomes, and enterprise growth. The forum forms part of the Authority’s broader agenda to empower young entrepreneurs with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the local economy. It complements the ongoing youth empowerment through start up capital being undertaken through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project Business Support Component.
Director Corporate Services Mr. Eric Owino and Member of Parliament for Alego Usonga Hon. Samuel Atandi addressing youth during the forum.
Speaking during the forum, Director Corporate Services Mr. Eric Owino, representing the Director General Mr. Henry Rithaa, reaffirmed MSEA’s commitment to supporting youth-led enterprises through access to machinery, skills development, and market opportunities. He urged the youth to take full advantage of government programmes designed to help them achieve economic independence, key among them the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project, which builds MSME clusters’ capabilities and competitiveness through training and co-investment support along priority value chains. In this regard, he encouraged the youth groups and other clusters to respond to the ongoing open call for applications for Business Development Services (BDS) training by applying through the KJET portal https://kjet.msea.go.ke/application/create before the deadline of 21st August 2026.
Highlights from the machine handover and media engagements with Director Owino and the beneficiaries.
During the event, MSEA issued 15 youth groups with common user machinery comprising arc welding machines, spot welding machines, plate compactors, car wash machines, ice popsicle machines, sewing machines, a lathe machine, salon kits, motorcycles, and a PlayStation gaming kit. This equipment will enable the youth groups to generate income, create employment for their peers, build assets, and grow into business leadership within their communities. Together, these initiatives underscore the Government’s commitment to unlocking the potential of young people as drivers of enterprise, innovation, and national economic transformation.
Pictorial highlights from the event.
