Eldoret June 21, 2012

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has today officially launched the Eldoret District Business Solution Centre an initiative aimed at rebuilding the lives of the 2007 Post Election Violence (PEV) victims.

UNDP Resident Representative Aeneas Chuma

UNDP Resident Representative Aeneas Chuma who graced the ceremony said the centre is part of their rehabilitation and empowerment projects to achieve cohesion and help the PEV victims sustain their lives economically.

Chuma revealed that UNDP had allocated 168 million shillings for different projects to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons sustain their lives and mentioned the establishment of District Business Solution Centres as part of these projects.

He said that apart from the Eldoret business solution centre, they have established other business centres in Kitale, Kisumu and Nakuru saying that these were among the areas that were most affected by the violence.

According to Chuma UNDP had commissioned a 3000 litres milk cooling plant in Karona centre, Eldoret East to help the residents to bulk and sell their milk to earn income to sustain their lives hence reducing dependence on government support programmes.

He said that the PEV victims’ rehabilitation programme has o prioritized the country’s economic growth and called upon the beneficiaries of the project who are mostly the youth and women to device means of sustaining and expanding these projects.

Chuma was also keen to note that UNDP has put its coordinators and PEV coordinators on the ground to monitor and ensure that the launched projects are achieving the goals of rebuilding livelihoods of the chaos’ victims.

He said that Business Solution Centres will be required to highlight their activities and achievements in terms of the training they offer and how many lives they have transformed.

The representative besides called upon the media to help them monitor such programmes through regular highlighting of the projects’ progress saying that the programmes are also aimed at achieving national cohesion.

Chuma urged the youth to utilize the centre and learn how to start and develop their businesses through embracing technology and entrepreneurship skills application.

He said that the Eldoret Business Solution centre was a mile ahead as it had already linked with financial institutions and started a table banking programme and had also trained more than 1600 entrepreneurs across Uasin Gishu County.

He also appreciated the response by the residents in participating in projects that have boosted their economic status and helped eradicate poverty.

The launch was attended by Eldoret West District Commissioner Christopher Wanjau and representatives from various ministries linked to the special programmes’ ministry.

Meanwhile, Chuma urged the youth to access entrepreneurship trainings which will help them start their businesses to generate income and avoid depending on formal employment.