Kigumo Basket Weavers Expo

Cabinet Secretary Hon. Simon Chelugui together with Cabinet Secretary for Lands Hon. Alice Wahome, Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage Hon. Aisha Jumwa and Secretary to the Cabinet Hon. Mercy Wanjau, joined Nominated Senator Hon. Veronica Maina during the Kigumo Basket Weavers Expo and later conducted a highly successful fundraiser for the basket weavers of Kigumo, Murang'a County. Through the Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE), Uwezo Fund, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement Project (NYOTA) which is being implemented by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority - MSEA, Hustler Fund and other agencies, the government is committed towards promoting MSMEs through founding, training and capacity building as part of the Bottom Up Economic Transmission Agenda (BETA).

The forum was a celebration of  women's empowerment, aiming to sensitize them on market opportunities for their handicrafts and train them on patenting their products for enhanced markets towards promoting their enterprises.

CS  urged women in Murang'a County to form a cooperative society to benefit from government funds. He noted that the women's baskets are of good quality and, through online marketing, they can fetch better returns in the global market. CS affirmed the government's commitment to supporting SMEs, stating that plans are underway to progress online marketing for cooperatives in Murang'a County aimed at eliminating brokers.

Senator Veronica Maina promised   Murang'a  women specializing in weaving that the Government would help them market their products through online platforms. Representatives of financial institutions, namely Equity, Cooperative, and UN Women's Country Director, Madam Anna Mutavati, were present, along with a Chinese Embassy delegation led by Mr. Zhang Zhizhong, Minister Counsellor, and Second in Command, and Murang'a leadership led by the Deputy Governor and Office of the First Lady Representative.

Speaking on the same note, Senator appealed for value addition for the baskets and highlighted the need for patent rights for "kiondo" as a brand for Murang'a County.CS Aisha Jumwa mentioned that the government has programs to empower handmade arts.

Uwezo Fund showcased beneficiary groups namely; Umoja ni Nguvu SHG, Visionaries  Visually  Impaired group ,    Blessed  women group,Irigu-ini Jasho SHG. Attended by hundreds of women, the expo showcased wonderfully woven kiondos and other eye-catching handiworks. The CS Co-operatives and MSME Development mentioned that he was very much impressed with the great work women are doing there.