Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has affirmed that the Women in MSMEs and Cooperatives Conference will be held annually to bolster the place of women in trade.

The forum, inaugurated on Tuesday in Eldoret, is part of Governor Bii’s agenda number four that aims at accelerating trade and entrepreneurship for economic transformation.

Speaking during the event that saw over 500 cooperators,traders and stakeholders attend,the Governor said his administration will continue providing financial support to these entities to grow, adding that cooperatives are the greatest employers especially for the young people.

“Kurur Women Cooperative Society that is based in Ziwa as the best in the county despite being run and managed by elderly women,” said Governor Bii, also reiterating that his administration will review the lending guidelines to allow co-ops borrow to a maximum of up to Ksh 10 million.

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprise, Simon Chelugui, noted that his Ministry will not only work closely with counties to support Cooperative societies to see the sector grow but also support and promote women in businesses.

He said his docket, through a funding kitty has a potential of lending out monies of up to Ksh 20million per society, challenging the cooperatives to embrace value addition across their various sub-sectors for maximum benefit.

During the forum. the county Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with I choose Life Africa led by CEO Mike Mutungi, where county MSMEs will benefit from capacity building initiatives among other important programs.

H.E the County first lady Salina Bii, Assembly Committee Chair for Trade, Evans Kapkea, Vice chair Co-ops Mary Goreti, CECMs Martha Cheruto (Trade and Co-ops), Eng Lucy Ng’endo (ICT,Youth), Anthony Sitienei (Education),Chief Officers Ruth Samoei (Co-ops) and Geoffrey Tanui (Trade) were in attendance.