Nyamira, KCB Foundation launch Sh130m fund for youth and women entrepreneurs

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo hosts KCB Managing Director Anastacia Kimtai for a courtesy call at his office in Nyamira on May 22, 2025./HANDOUT

Nyamira County has signed a Sh130 million partnership with the Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation to boost youth and women entrepreneurship under the 2Jiajiri Programme.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Nyamira County and the KCB Foundation on May 16, 2025 in Nairobi.

Speaking when he hosted the KCB Managing Director Anastacia Kimtai at his office today, Governor Amos Nyaribo said financial inclusion, especially to the most vulnerable in realising their potential in socioeconomic transformation.

In this venture, the county government and KCB will each contribute Sh15 million for training of beneficiaries in the first year.

"This partnership will empower our youths and women to get skills that will enable them create jobs through affordable credit," Governor Nyaribo said.

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo hosts KCB Managing Director Anastacia Kimtai for a courtesy call at his office in Nyamira on May 22, 2025. This follows the signing of a Sh130 million MoU partnership to support training and entrepreneurship under the 2Jiajiri Programme. Looking on is KCB Nyamira County Manager Obadiah Okeri./HANDOUT

Governor Nyaribo thanked KCB for its continued support. He added that school leavers will benefit once the ICT hub of the county is equipped and operationalised.

Within four weeks or so, the Governor said, more than 35 youth will be graduating and receiving financing for entrepreneurship.

"We are installing computers at the hub to start off the project. Once operationalized, this project will create self employment for our youths,” the Governor said.

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo hosts KCB Managing Director Anastacia Kimtai for a courtesy call at his office in Nyamira on May 22, 2025./HANDOUT

Ms Kimtai said KCB is committed to improving people’s welfare through its corporate social responsibility by engaging in giving out education scholarships, promoting youth and women’s business acumen, and environment conservation.

“When you empower women you enrich the whole society.  This is why we at KCB are supporting women and the youth in their financial activities,” Ms Kimtai said.

So far, Ms Kimtai said, KCB had supported women in the country with Sh150 million to access business through capacity building and training on profitable ventures.

Further, the KCB boss noted that the Foundation has supported 125 students from Nyamira County with scholarships up to university education.

On environment conservation, she said through its corporate department, the financial institution has also planted more than 1,000 trees in the region.

In attendance were the County Secretary Jack Magara, County Attorney Erastus Orina, CECMs Emily Ongaga (Education), Benard Maina (Trade), Alice Manoti (Sports and Gender), Jones Omwenga (Finance) and Chief officer Zipporah Orina (Education).