The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action has reduced the number of women entrepreneurs set to be trained in financial literacy.
As outlined in the Supplementary Budget for the financial year 2024/25, the department had planned to train 150,000 women entrepreneurs but the number has been reduced to zero.
This is among the changes announced to reduce the country's budget. Millions of Kenyans will be affected by the austerity measures.
"The Estimates have been revised under the FY 2024/25 Supplementary Estimates No. I from Ksh6.1 billion to Ksh5.6 billion comprising Ksh2.0 billion and Ksh3.6 billion for Current and Capital expenditure respectively, reflecting a reduction of Ksh550.9 million. The reduction is on account of budget rationalization," read part of the budget estimated.
The government also reduced the target for the number of women entrepreneurs linked to large enterprises from 2,000 to zero.
Additionally, the department also lowered the number of women entrepreneurs trained in value addition from 1,300 to zero.
Notably, the department also scrapped the estimated budget to be disbursed to women groups from Ksh5.7 billion. This will affect thousands of women.
Furthermore, the amount to be disbursed to women entrepreneurs through LPO financing was cancelled from the previously estimated Ksh30 million.
Also, Ksh30 million will be scrapped in the state department's project to disburse to widows under the Thamini loan product.
Besides the above budget cuts, the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action will also reduce the number of students to benefit from bursaries and scholarships.
The initial target was 36,300 students which has been reduced to 25,000. These changes will leave thousands of students who depend on the funding in limbo.
Also, the number of groups supported through grants for socio-economic development will be reduced from 2,050 to 1,500. Also 290 groups will also not be funded for value addition initiatives, the number was reduced from 1,290 to 1,000.
