A high-level delegation from Nakuru County, led by County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Mr. Kibet Kurgat, recently toured Trans Nzoia County on a mission to study and replicate the successful Nawiri Fund. This community-focused fund has gained national attention for its impact on empowering local groups, fostering sustainable enterprises, and streamlining access to government procurement opportunities.
The team was hosted by Trans Nzoia County Trade CEC Mr. Patrick Gicheru, who offered a detailed overview of the Nawiri Fund’s evolution, structure, and impact since its inception.
💡 Strategic Shift from Individual Lending to Group Empowerment
Mr. Gicheru noted that the Nawiri Fund initially faced challenges due to its early strategy of disbursing loans directly to individuals. “We quickly realized that distributing cash to individuals wasn’t sustainable. There were too many defaulters,” he explained.
To solve this, the county transitioned to funding registered groups vetted by relevant government agencies. This shift significantly improved accountability and repayment rates while enhancing community-level impact.
In the last financial year alone, the Nawiri Fund disbursed over Ksh 80 million, supporting over 250 groups across all 25 wards.
🟢 Key Highlights:
- ✔️ Focus shifted from individuals to vetted, registered community groups.
- ✔️ 30% of procurable items under AGPO are reserved for local groups.
- ✔️ Emphasis on empowerment, not handouts.
📈 Linking Nawiri to Government Tenders & Economic Inclusion
Mr. Omari Ndiema, Chief Officer for Trade and Industry in Trans Nzoia, emphasized the fund’s role in demystifying procurement processes for ordinary citizens.
“Governor George Natembeya is committed to ensuring locals are aware of procurement procedures so they can benefit from tenders,” he said.
This linkage ensures the Nawiri Fund doesn’t just finance businesses—it integrates them into broader economic systems by equipping groups with the knowledge and tools to access government opportunities.
🤝 Scaling the Model Beyond Borders
Martin Waliaula, Chairperson of the Nawiri Fund Board, applauded the fund’s structure and reiterated the importance of collaboration across counties.
“Trans Nzoia has created a strong framework that ensures accountability and efficiency,” he said. “It’s a model Nakuru and other counties can learn from, especially in avoiding audit pitfalls and strengthening grassroots enterprises.”
📌 Nakuru’s Plans to Empower Cooperatives and SACCOs
Nakuru County’s Chief Officer for Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Kibet Kurgat, expressed admiration for the Nawiri Fund’s model and its seamless execution.
“The policies and strategies in place are impressive,” he noted. “We are keen to adopt a similar initiative to support our SACCOs and cooperatives, particularly with a focus on transparency and long-term sustainability.”
🚀 On-the-Ground Impact: Stories of Transformation
During their benchmarking visit, the Nakuru delegation toured several Nawiri Fund beneficiaries, including Sanya Sanya Self Group and Transqueens Cooperative Society.
Members of these groups shared testimonies of how the fund has elevated their businesses, enabled expansions, and improved livelihoods.
“The Nawiri Fund has truly transformed our operations,” said a representative from Transqueens Cooperative Society. “We’ve expanded our reach, grown our membership, and created economic resilience in our community.”
📣 Looking Ahead: Inter-County Collaboration for Sustainable Growth
The visit underscored the value of peer learning and collaboration in devolution. Nakuru County’s intent to adopt and adapt Trans Nzoia’s Nawiri Fund model marks a step toward a more inclusive, locally-driven development approach.
As counties continue to face the challenge of balancing empowerment with accountability, models like the Nawiri Fund provide a tested blueprint for impactful, grassroots-driven economic transformation.
