Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) has called on women in the Nyanza region to embrace savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) for wealth creation.
Saccos usually provide plant forms for savings, getting loans and dividends to their members. This makes them a good source of funds.
The organization’s national chairperson Rahab Muiu and Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara argued that joining Saccos is the best way of transforming the livelihoods of women.
Saccos have enabled people who have embraced them to fight poverty in many families due to the services they provide.
Muiu said many women in Nyanza have business ideas but the challenge affecting them is lack of capital.
“We know people whose lives have been transformed because of saccos. The financial services they offer are good and that’s why I urge women of the Nyanza region to join them,” Muiu said.
Speaking on Tuesday when they met some Nyanza women in during an Annual General Meeting of a Rachuonyo East Entrepreneur Sacco at Center Sori village in Kabondo Kasipul constituency, Muiu said saccos have reduced overdependence in the families.
Through the provision of loans and dividends members are able to enable to start and run businesses.
“Domestic conflicts which are related to monetary issues have reduced because there is no overreliance. There is dignity among women who have embraced saccos,” she added.
Obara said one of the reasons hindering the fight against poverty in the society is failure to save.
The MP encouraged women in the area to save every part of their daily income.
“Let people save part of any income they get for a better return. The savings will help whenever an emergency arises,” Obara said.
She said the best way of saving is to join Saccos.
She gave an example of Rachuonyo East Entrepreneur Sacco which also provides health insurance for its members.
“Saccos inculcate the spirit of savings culture among communities. They also have health insurance programmes which are beneficial to members,” she said.
She said Saccos provide opportunities for wealth creation as they can engage in various business activities.
Obara argued that Saccos also enhance the dignity of people when they want to borrow money.
“A sacco enables one to borrow funds with dignity because they lend the amount of money one applies for based on their savings,” Obara said.
The leaders also taught residents about health promotion which encouraged them to embrace the use of Sawa Water Can for purifying water.
The use of the can involves boiling water using direct sunlight in which water is poured into the can and placed in the sun for at least four hours. The sun kills the jams.
“The use of Sawa Water Can is approved by the World Health Organization and Kebs. We encourage residents to embrace it because it cost-effectively purifies water and it prevents the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” Muiu said.
